Pennsylvania jury acquits pro-life activist Mark Houck on charges of obstructing abortion clinic access
Mark Houck, 48, faced 11 years in prison for allegedly violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A jury has reportedly acquitted Pennsylvania pro-life activist who was accused of allegedly pushing a Planned Parenthood escort during a clash outside an abortion clinic, Life News reported.
Mark Houck, 48, faced charges that he violated the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, which makes it a federal crime to use force with the intent to injure, intimidate and interfere with anyone because that person produces reproductive health care. He pleaded not guilty.
The charge stems from an Oct. 13, 2021 incident in which the Biden Administration alleged Houck assaulted and "forcefully shoved" Bruce Love, a 72-year-old volunteer at a Philadelphia Planned Parenthood.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Photo of pro-life Pennsylvania man Mark Houck with his family. Houck was found not guilty by a Pennsylvania jury of violating a federal abortion interference law. (Thomas More Society)
Houck was arrested in his home by multiple FBI agents in September 2022.
U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, celebrated the news of Houck's acquittal with a tweet.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"Good. Begs question of the $48 billion we give to DOJ…," he wrote.
Shortly after Houck's arrest last fall, his attorney Peter Breen told Fox News Digital that his client's arrest was an "outrageous abuse of power" from the Department of Justice that was intended to intimidate pro-life Americans.
"The message from the Biden Department of Justice is pure intimidation against pro-life people and people of faith," said Breen, senior counsel of the Thomas More Society. "Why in the world would you send this phalanx of officers heavily armed to this family's home, violate the sanctity of their home, frighten their children? Why would you do that, other than just to send a message?
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Bill Devlin, a pastor who has ministered with Houck for more than 20 years, told The Christian Post last year that appeared federal prosecutors were "stretching the statute of the FACE Act."
Mark Houck seen with his children. Houck was arrested on Friday by the FBI stemming from a reported altercation with a man outside of a Planned Parenthood in Philadelphia. (Thomas More Society )
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"We are deep brothers in the faith, and I’ve come alongside to undergird and support him because it’s the presumption of innocent until the government can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Mark Houck violated the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act," Devlin told the outlet.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Fox News' Danielle Wallace contributed to this report.