President Trump pardons 23 abortion demonstrators

Published Jan 23 Updated Jan 23

Listen

Ray Bogan Political Correspondent

By Ray Bogan (Political Correspondent), Snorre Wik (Photographer/Video Editor)

President Trump pardoned 23 anti-abortion demonstrators who were convicted of civil rights violations and other crimes during the administration of former President Joe Biden. Some are still in prison; their sentences range from six months to five years.

Bias Distribution Powered by Ground News™

The pardons come just ahead of the March for Life, an annual event that draws tens of thousands to Washington.

Download the SAN app today to stay up-to-date with Unbiased. Straight Facts™.

Point phone camera here

The demonstrators were found guilty of violating the FACE Act, which prohibits threats and physical obstruction at reproductive clinics or places of worship. When charged as a felony, it carries a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison.

To make the FACE Act violation a felony, prosecutors also charged some of the demonstrators with violating the KKK Act, a 19th-century law written to protect newly enfranchised Black Americans.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., asked President Trump to pardon six individuals. That includes Paul Vaughn, who said he was complimented by local police for the peaceful manner of his protest.

Vaughn told Congress about the moment he was arrested 18 months later.

“I opened the door and stepped out onto the porch, staring down the barrels of both a pistol and an automatic weapon pointed at my head,” anti-abortion advocate Paul Vaughn said. “I later learned at the same time, three of my children, ages 12, 14 and 18, were being detained in the side yard on the edge of the woods by a fourth armed man.”

The Thomas More Society, an anti-abortion nonprofit law firm, asked the president to pardon 21 individuals. The group said those convicted are upstanding individuals who were targeted by the Biden administration.

“Only after Dobbs was decided did they begin rounding up pro-lifers, all around the country, for incidents that occurred years before Dobbs was even decided. And they’ve thrown the proverbial book at them,” Steve Crampton, senior counsel of the Thomas More Society, told the House in December.

In a speech in February 2024, President Trump said some anti-abortion activists were found guilty of “outrageous” charges and pledged to review the cases when in office.

Tags: Abortion, Anna Paulina Luna, Arrest, Crime, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Lawsuit, Pardon, Prison, Reproductive rights, Washington DC

[RAY BOGAN]
President Trump pardoned 23 pro-life demonstrators who were convicted of civil rights violations and other crimes during the Biden Administration.

[RAY BOGAN]
Some are still in prison, their sentences range from six months to five years.

[RAY BOGAN]
The demonstrators were found guilty of violating the FACE Act which prohibits threats and physical obstruction at reproductive clinics or places of worship. When charged as a felony, it carries a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison.

[RAY BOGAN]
To make the FACE Act violation a felony, prosecutors also charged some of the demonstrators with violating the KKK Act, a 19th century law written to protect newly enfranchised Black Americans.

[RAY BOGAN]
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., asked President Trump to pardon six individuals. That includes Paul Vaughn who said he was complimented by local police for the peaceful manner of his protest.

[RAY BOGAN]
He told Congress about the moment he was arrested 18 months later.

[PAUL VAUGHN]
“I opened the door and stepped out onto the porch staring down the barrels of both a pistol and an automatic weapon pointed at my head. I later learned at the same time three of my children, ages 12, 14 and 18, were being detained in the side yard on the edge of the woods by a fourth armed man.”

[RAY BOGAN]
The Thomas More Society, a pro-life, non-profit law firm, asked the President to pardon 21 individuals. The group said those convicted are upstanding individuals who were targeted by the Biden Administration.

[STEVE CRAMPTON]
“Only after Dobbs was decided did they begin rounding up pro-lifers, all around the country, for incidents that occurred years before Dobbs was even decided. And they’ve thrown the proverbial book at them.”

[RAY BOGAN]
The pardons come just ahead of the March for Life, an annual event that draws tens of thousands to Washington DC.

[RAY BOGAN]
In a speech in February 2024, President Trump said some pro-life activists were found guilty of “outrageous” charges and pledged to review the cases when in office.

Bias Summary

Risus turpis eu consectetur sagittis quam urna nostra nulla penatibus, gravida odio nunc porttitor condimentum mauris posuere sollicitudin euismod molestie, in ipsum non consequat rutrum fringilla luctus commodo.
Consectetur condimentum dui litora tempus dis praesent vulputate cursus fusce euismod ac eu maximus dictum, aptent nibh ligula vehicula penatibus finibus auctor turpis posuere tellus malesuada inceptos.

Report an issue with this comparison

Bias Comparison

The Left curabitur amet neque primis tincidunt porta dictumst montes purus cursus lobortis in massa elit elementum, ullamcorper varius lorem convallis urna per odio dui parturient fringilla vehicula et ex.

The Center porta facilisi aliquam cras primis placerat pretium mus suscipit vitae elit dictumst ex proin habitasse, nisl tellus condimentum lacinia iaculis et magnis lorem varius ipsum aliquet sit facilisis.

The Right in id varius mus accumsan dignissim viverra hac elementum fames torquent malesuada nisl luctus nulla quis pulvinar, enim conubia mauris augue convallis imperdiet eros dolor curabitur parturient dapibus rutrum pellentesque at pharetra.

Report an issue with this comparison