Pro-Life activist Mark Hauck pleaded not guilty to charges that he violated the FACE (Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances) Act in October of 2021. The FACE Act makes it a federal crime to use force to injure, intimidate, and interfere with anyone because that person produces reproductive health care. The FBI arrested Hauck at his Pennsylvania home last week after a warrant was issued for his arrest stemming from an alleged altercation involving Hauck and Bruce Love, a 72-year-old volunteer at Philadelphia Planned Parenthood. He’s charged with two counts of violating the FACE Act,
Hauck’s attorney, Peter Breen, contends that this case had made its way through the PA state court process last year and was eventually thrown out. The federal complaint alleges Hauck twice assaulted Love because he was a volunteer reproductive health care clinic escort. Breen contends that Love became overly aggressive and was harassing Hauck’s 12-year-old son, provoking an altercation.
Hauck’s wife described the arrest as 25-30 armed FBI agents with guns drawn, raiding the home and putting her husband in shackles. The FBI has responded by saying that her portrayal is highly exaggerated. “FBI agents knocked on Mr. Houck’s front door, identified themselves as FBI agents, and asked him to exit the residence,” a statement obtained by Fox News said. “He did so and was taken into custody without incident pursuant to an indictment.”
Breen also contends that in June, he had reached out to the DOJ on behalf of his client to inform them that they had no case based on controlling precedent, but if they moved forward with an indictment, he would present Houck willingly in response to any summons. The defense was offering to surrender their client but instead, the FBI chose to send agents to his house and arrest him in front of his family.
