The Department of Justice (DOJ) has pledged to end the federal government’s weaponization of the law, dismissing three high-profile FACE Act cases against pro-life protesters. A memorandum obtained by the Daily Caller outlines the new directive, aligning with President Donald Trump’s promise to correct past abuses in law enforcement.
The Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, enacted in 1994, prohibits actions intended to block access to reproductive health services. Under President Joe Biden, the DOJ pursued numerous FACE Act prosecutions against pro-life protesters, many of whom were nonviolent. Critics pointed out the lack of action against attacks on pro-life organizations and churches following the Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade.
“More than 100 crisis pregnancy centers, pro-life organizations, and churches were attacked after Dobbs, yet nearly all FACE Act prosecutions have targeted pro-life protesters,” the DOJ memorandum stated, calling the previous approach a departure from justice.
Future FACE Act prosecutions will now require authorization from the Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division and will only proceed under “extraordinary circumstances” involving death, serious bodily harm, or significant property damage. The memo instructed the Civil Rights Division to dismiss three cases immediately:
- United States v. Connolly: Defendant Matthew Connolly was accused of creating a physical obstruction at a Philadelphia clinic by locking himself in a bathroom. No physical harm or clinic access blockage was alleged.
- United States v. Zastrow: Defendants blocked a clinic’s front door but did not harm anyone physically. President Trump recently pardoned 24 pro-life protesters, including defendants in this case.
- United States v. Citizens for a Pro-Life Society: The memo did not elaborate on this case but directed its dismissal with prejudice.
The memo emphasizes Trump’s broader directive to identify and correct instances of law enforcement weaponization, reflecting his campaign pledge to restore fairness in federal governance.
The move signals a shift in the DOJ’s focus under the Trump administration, prioritizing an even-handed approach to justice and correcting perceived bias in prior enforcement actions.
