Acquitted Pro-Life Activist Mark Houck Announces Run for Congress
Facing 11 years in prison, Houck was acquitted by a jury after only an hour of deliberation.
Facing 11 years in prison, Houck was acquitted by a jury after only an hour of deliberation.
The lawsuit notice points out that the FBI and DOJ ignored the fact that, as a volunteer at the Community Women’s Center of America pregnancy center, he had equal standing under the FACE Act, among other concerns related to violation of his rights.
Defense lawyers for Houck could not comment on the reason for the replacement.
The judge sent the jury home with instructions to return to court and resume their deliberations Monday morning.
Opening statements begin Wednesday, but about 50 supporters gathered in front of the federal courthouse in Philadelphia on Tuesday to rally for Houck’s acquittal. Others joined Houck and his wife at Eucharistic adoration on Monday.
The defense argued Thursday that Love was saying degrading things to Houck’s son during the exchange, an accusation that Love denies.
The more than 30-page motion alleges that the government violated the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment in its prosecution of Houck.
Houck said that numerous people — including the Missionaries of Charity — have assured him of their prayers since his arrest.
Houck was doing sidewalk counseling outside the facility at the time of the 2021 incident in connection with his work with The King’s Men, a national men’s faith formation apostolate he runs.
Houck has pleaded not guilty to two alleged violations of the act, which stem from an altercation that took place outside a Planned Parenthood abortion facility in Philadelphia on Oct. 13, 2021.
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