On Thursday, January 23, 2025, President Donald Trump issued pardons to 23 anti-abortion advocates convicted of blockading abortion clinic entrances.
“Twenty-three people were prosecuted, they should not have been prosecuted,” Trump stated. “This is a great honor to sign. They will be very happy.”
Several of the individuals pardoned were reportedly involved in an “alleged reproductive healthcare clinic invasion” on October 22, 2020 in Washington, D.C. According to a statement released by former Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke, individuals from “various northeast and midwestern states” traveled to the nation’s capital where they “forcefully entered [an abortion clinic] and set about blockading two clinic doors using their bodies, furniture, chains and ropes.”
“The indictment also alleges that the nine defendants violated the FACE Act by using a physical obstruction to injure, intimidate and interfere with the clinic’s employees and a patient, because they were providing or obtaining reproductive health services,” the statement continues.
Nine women were indicted and the leader of the blockade, Lauren Handy, was ultimately convicted and sentenced to five years in prison. Authorities also say they found multiple fetuses at Handy’s home after she was indicted.
Trump issued pardons to 23 anti-abortion advocates as he reportedly prepares to deliver remarks at the March For Life in Washington, D.C. The annual march is scheduled to take place on Friday, January 24, 2025 in the nation’s capital. Trump previously spoke at the annual event in 2020.
