Trump Pardons 23 Unjustly Prosecuted Pro-Lifers on the Eve of March for Life

On January 23, the eve of the 52nd annual March for Life, President Donald J. Trump issued pardons to 23 pro-lifers who had been wrongly convicted under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act for peacefully praying and encouraging women to choose life outside abortion clinics. This action was one of Trump’s first as he reentered the Oval Office, keeping the promises made during his presidential campaign.

“Twenty-three people were prosecuted who should not have been prosecuted. Many of them are elderly people. They should not have been prosecuted,” Trump said while signing. “This is a great honor to sign this.”

These wrongly convicted individuals, whose ages and health varied significantly, included elderly individuals and those in poor health. They were initially prosecuted for their involvement in peaceful protests outside abortion clinics, where they were singing, praying, and encouraging women in unplanned pregnancies to save the lives of their unborn babies. These protests were unjustly penalized under an administration that had weaponized the law against pro-life advocates.

According to The Daily Wire, the following individuals were among the 23 pro-life activists pardoned by President Trump, each having served varying lengths of imprisonment for their involvement.

Those imprisoned included Lauren Handy (57 months in prison), John Hinshaw (21 months), Jonathan Darnell (34 months), Herb Geraghty (27 months), Jean Marshall (24 months), Joan Bell (27 months), Paulette Harlow (24 months), Bevelyn Williams (41 months), Heather Idoni (24 months), and Calvin Zastrow (6 months).

These protests took place in various locations including Tennessee, Washington, D.C., and New York.

The Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act was originally enacted in the 1990s with the intention to prevent obstructions at both abortion clinics and pro-life pregnancy centers. However, it has faced significant criticism for what many see as its one-sided enforcement. Under President Joe Biden’s administration, the DOJ has been accused of disproportionately targeting pro-life protestors, failing to address numerous instances of vandalism and violence against pro-life facilities. These criticisms expose a broader concern about fairness in the application of the law, particularly regarding free speech and peaceful protest.

Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), alongside Representative Chip Roy (R-TX-21), has introduced legislation aimed at repealing the FACE Act arguing that it has been disproportionately used against pro-life advocates, constituting a misuse of federal power and infringing on states' rights. The proposed legislation suggests that the FACE Act has not only been applied unevenly but also overlooks violent acts against pro-life entities while penalizing peaceful pro-life protests.

Prior to the pardon, in a statement on X, Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) criticized the Biden administration for its actions against pro-life activists, including an 89-year-old Holocaust survivor. He contrasted these prosecutions with the pardons issued by Biden for convicted criminals on his last day in office.

Several of the pro-life activists were represented by the Thomas More Society, a Chicago-based conservative public interest law firm that played a critical role in advocating for their pardons. In a release, Steve Crampton, Senior Counsel at the Thomas More Society, remarked:

“Today, freedom rings in our great nation. The heroic peaceful pro-lifers unjustly imprisoned by Biden’s Justice Department will now be freed and able to return home to their families, eat a family meal, and enjoy the freedom that should have never been taken from them in the first place. These heroic peaceful pro-lifers were treated shamefully by Biden’s DOJ, with many of them branded felons and losing many rights that we take for granted as American citizens. Today, their precious freedom is restored. What happened to them can never be erased, but today’s pardons are a huge step towards restoring justice. Thank you to President Trump and his team for righting these grievous wrongs of the previous administration.”