Trump DOJ Fires Prosecutors Over Alleged Bias in FACE Act Cases

Justice Department moves to overhaul enforcement of law protecting access to abortion clinics and pregnancy centers.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 12:21am

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A serene, cinematic painting of an empty courtroom bench, the warm sunlight casting deep shadows and creating a sense of quiet contemplation over the imbalances within the legal system.The Justice Department's report on alleged bias in FACE Act prosecutions raises concerns about the politicization of the criminal justice system.Washington Today

The Trump administration has fired multiple federal prosecutors who handled cases that resulted in prison sentences for pro-life activists under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act. This comes after a Justice Department report alleged the Biden administration 'weaponized' the law through selective prosecution, harsher sentencing, and other misconduct.

Why it matters

The FACE Act was designed to protect access to abortion clinics and pregnancy resource centers, but the report claims the law was selectively enforced under the previous administration to target pro-life activists while failing to adequately pursue attacks on anti-abortion organizations. This raises concerns about potential political bias in the Justice Department's handling of these cases.

The details

According to the Justice Department report, prosecutors coordinated with abortion-rights groups, sought harsher sentences for pro-life defendants, and in some cases withheld evidence from defense attorneys. The report also alleged prosecutors attempted to screen out jurors based on religious beliefs and used aggressive arrest tactics rather than allowing defendants to voluntarily surrender.

  • The Justice Department released the report on Tuesday, April 15, 2026.
  • The Trump administration has already taken steps to reverse course, including issuing pardons for pro-life activists convicted under the prior administration.

The players

Todd Blanche

Acting Attorney General who stated the Justice Department will not tolerate a 'two-tiered system of justice' and that the 'weaponization' under the Biden administration will not happen again.

Mark Houck

A pro-life activist whose case was cited in the report, where prosecutors declined his request to self-surrender and instead authorized an FBI arrest at his home.

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What they’re saying

“The behavior unearthed in this report is shameful. Some prosecutors withheld evidence and worked to exclude religious jurors.”

— Todd Blanche, Acting Attorney General

“This department will not tolerate a two-tiered system of justice. No Department should conduct selective prosecution based on beliefs. The weaponization that happened under the Biden Administration will not happen again, as we restore integrity to our prosecutorial system.”

— Todd Blanche, Acting Attorney General

What’s next

The Justice Department has already taken steps to reverse course, including issuing pardons for pro-life activists convicted under the prior administration, dismissing several civil cases, and limiting future FACE Act prosecutions to 'extraordinary circumstances'.

The takeaway

This case highlights concerns about potential political bias in the Justice Department's enforcement of the FACE Act, with allegations that the law was selectively used to target pro-life activists while failing to adequately address attacks on anti-abortion organizations. The Trump administration's actions to overhaul enforcement and restore integrity to the prosecutorial system will be closely watched.