Support Grows for Pro-Life Catholic Father of 7 whose Home was Raided by FBI as Over $200K is Raised

FBI Raids Home of Pro-Life Activist

On Oct. 13, 2021, Mark Houck, a Catholic author, lecturer, radio host, and co-founder of a male group, The King's Men was arrested by 25 FBI agents after raiding his home. At 7:00am on a Friday agents with drawn guns broke into the family home and handcuffed Houck in front of his wife and seven screaming children. He is now being threatened with 11 years in prison and fines of up to $350,000 for pushing a man to the ground outside Planned Parenthood Elizabeth Blackwell Health Center in Philadelphia last year. Houck was on the sidewalk participating in a peaceful protest outside the client with his 12 year-old son when clinic volunteer Bruce Love fell into a heated argument with Houck. Love began harassing with disgusting comments aimed at both the father and son, including “you’re dad’s a fag” and entered the son’s personal space. When Houck pushed Love the 72-year fell down causing injuries allegedly needing medical attention. Due to lack of evidence Houck was not charged by the police. Nor was Love’s suing of Houck successful last summer. However, the President 's Department of Justice charged him with violation of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act which is defined by "force or threat of force or by physical obstruction, intentionally injures, intimidates or interferes with or attempts to injure, intimidate or interfere with any person because that person is or has been, or in order to intimidate such person or any other person or any class of persons from, obtaining or providing reproductive health services." U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero reasoned that, "Assault is always a serious offense, and under the FACE Act, if the victim is targeted because of their association with a reproductive healthcare clinic, it is a federal crime.” 

The Biden administration is now being accused of using the FBI and Department of Justice as a weapon against pro-life conservatives. Houck was arrested after his case was dismissed by court, Love having sustained no injuries, and on charges that he had attacked a “patient escort'', a federal offense. 

If convicted, Mark Houk could face charges of over $300,000 and 11 years in prison. His GiveSendGo Page has reached over $200,000 in donations.

Sources:  https://www.lifenews.com/2022/09/25/joe-bidens-fbi-raids-home-of-pro-life-activist-arrests-him-in-front-of-his-crying-children/

https://www.theblaze.com/news/prolife-activist-fbi-raid-abortion-clinic

Department of Justice Press Release on the Arrest:

Bucks County Man Indicted on Federal Charges for Assaulting a Reproductive Healthcare Clinic Escort

PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Mark Houck, 48, of Kintnersville, PA, was charged by Indictment with a violation of 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 is a provider of reproductive health care. The defendant was arrested and made his initial appearance in federal court on these charges earlier today.

According to court documents, the defendant is alleged to have twice assaulted a man because he was a volunteer reproductive health care clinic escort. The charges stem from two separate incidents both on October 13, 2021, which occurred at the Planned Parenthood Elizabeth Blackwell Health Center on Locust Street in Philadelphia, where Houck allegedly assaulted the victim, a 72-year-old man, identified in the Indictment as “B.L.,” because B.L. was a volunteer escort at the reproductive health care clinic. In the first incident, B.L. was attempting to escort two patients exiting the clinic, when the defendant forcefully shoved B.L. to the ground. In the second incident, the defendant verbally confronted B.L. and forcefully shoved B.L. to the ground in front of the Planned Parenthood center, causing injuries to B.L. that required medical attention.

“Assault is always a serious offense, and under the FACE Act, if the victim is targeted because of their association with a reproductive healthcare clinic, it is a federal crime,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “Our Office and the Department of Justice are committed to prosecuting crimes which threaten the safety and rights of all individuals.”

“Put simply, violence is never the answer,” said Jacqueline Maguire, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Philadelphia Division. “Violating the FACE Act by committing a physical assault is a serious crime for which the FBI will work to hold offenders accountable.”

If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of 11 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and fines of up to $350,000.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anita Eve and DOJ Trial Attorney Sanjay Patel of the Civil Rights Division.

An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.