Attorney General Merrick Garland agreed to “look into” questions from Republican lawmakers about the Biden administration’s application of the FACE Act during a congressional appropriations hearing on Tuesday.
Garland told Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA) during a budget request hearing for the Justice Department that he would hand over data on the DOJ’s prosecution FACE Act charges if that information existed. Republican lawmakers have argued that the FACE Act, a Clinton-era law that criminalizes the use of force or threats of force that prevent someone from accessing an abortion facility, has been weaponized against pro-life activists.
“My colleague, Congressman Chip Roy, has twice requested a copy of the Freedom of Access to Entrance of Clinics Act prosecution data,” Clyde said. “He first asked for it in October 2022 and then again two months ago on February 16. He has yet to receive this data. My question to you is when will this data be provided by the Department of Justice?”
Garland replied that he would be “very happy to look into this,” but added that he was unfamiliar with the specific request. He said the DOJ would provide the data if it “exists.”
The DOJ has repeatedly stonewalled my friend @RepChipRoy’s requests for FACE Act data.
Joe Biden’s DOJ is desperate to hide the truth about its weaponization of this law against pro-life Americans.
Today, I pressed AG Garland to commit to finally providing this information. pic.twitter.com/ETM5Kamyjy
— Rep. Andrew Clyde (@Rep_Clyde) April 16, 2024
Republicans began a renewed push for access for FACE Act data after six pro-lifer activists were convicted in February over a peaceful demonstration at an abortion facility in Tennessee in March 2021. Upon sentencing in July, they could face hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines and up to 10.5 years in prison after the Biden administration accused them of conspiring against rights secured by the FACE Act.
After the hearing, Clyde said that Biden’s Justice Department had purposely been hiding the data. “The DOJ has repeatedly stonewalled my friend @RepChipRoy’s requests for FACE Act data,” Clyde posted to X. “Joe Biden’s DOJ is desperate to hide the truth about its weaponization of this law against pro-life Americans.”
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Roy, alongside Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), have repeatedly pushed for the FACE Act to be repealed. Lee has noted that the FACE Act, which supposed to be used to protect churches and pregnancy centers as well, appears to only be used to target pro-life activists and not pro-abortion activists.
“Both AG Garland and Assistant AG Clarke have now agreed to release FACE Act data,” Roy’s press office said Tuesday. “Will the DOJ finally stop stonewalling this information? Or are they afraid it will expose just how much the FACE Act has been weaponized against Americans?”
Earlier this month, four more pro-lifers were convicted in Tennessee over a peaceful pro-life protest. They face up to six months in prison and thousands of dollars in fines upon sentencing.