President Trump Pardons 23 People Who Harassed and Attacked Abortion Patients and Clinics
Those pardoned physically blocked patients from entering health care facilities, stole fetal tissue from clinics, and injured patients and health care workers.
1.24.2025 (PRESS RELEASE) – Yesterday, President Donald Trump pardoned 23 people who were convicted of violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE Act). Many of those pardoned are currently serving prison sentences for physically blocking patients from accessing their doctors. Some of the offenses committed include breaking into clinics, stealing fetal tissue, and accosting pregnant patients. Six of the people pardoned had blocked patients from entering a Michigan healthcare clinic that the Center for Reproductive Rights represents.
Statement from Nancy Northup, President & CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights:
“President Trump’s pardons are a get-out-of-jail-free card inviting anti-abortion extremists to step up their attacks on reproductive health clinics with impunity. Congress enacted the FACE Act over 30 years ago with strong bi-partisan support because patients, clinic staff, and doctors needed protection from a reign of terror that included murders, arson, vandalism and clinic blockades.
Since the news of the pardons, we have heard from abortion providers across the country that they are terrified for the safety of their staff and patients. Even with this law in place, anti-abortion activists have threatened to kill providers, have bombed their clinics, and have harassed their patients. Under previous administrations, clinics could count on the Department of Justice to enforce the law regardless of a president’s views on abortion. No more. President Trump has declared that it is him, not Congress, who decides what the law is and who it protects.
With these pardons, President Trump has left patients and providers to fend for themselves against those who will go to extremes to stop women from accessing healthcare.”
The people pardoned—some of whom committed violent acts—are being released from prison the day before the “March For Life,” when thousands of anti-abortion extremists will descend on Washington D.C.
Since 1994, the FACE Act has been critical in protecting both patients and abortion providers from violence and harassment. It was passed in direct response to several extreme acts of violence against abortion providers, including the murder of Dr. Gunn in 1993 in Florida and by an unsuccessful attempt on Dr. Tiller’s life in Kansas. The Act established federal criminal penalties for “violent, threatening, obstructive and destructive conduct” intended to block someone from getting or providing reproductive health care.
Enforcement of the FACE Act is needed now more than ever. Since Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022, there’s been a sharp increase in violence against abortion clinics, staff and patients. The year Roe was overturned, there was a 538% increase in people obstructing clinic entrances (from 45 in 2021 to 287 in 2022); a 913% increase in stalking of clinic staff (from 8 in 2021 to 81 in 22); and a 144% increase in bomb threats (from 3 in 2021 to 7 in 2022).
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