Republican lawmakers and the pro-life community have already called into question the unprecedented federal targeting of pro-life father Mark Houck — and new information from a private criminal complaint only makes the arrest all the more suspect.
Houck, who leads a nonprofit group that provides sidewalk counseling at abortion clinics in Philadelphia, was arrested by some 20 FBI agents and charged under the federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act last month for allegedly pushing an abortion escort last year.
But a private criminal complaint filed by Houck’s accuser, identified as Bruce Love, does not indicate that Love was escorting Planned Parenthood patients at the time of the alleged incident, a new report from The Federalist outlines.
Houck “was standing on the corner and [Love] was standing a few feet away from [Houck] waiting for clients,” Love’s criminal complaint says. “[Houck] stated to [Love] to stay away from him and that he will push [Love] into the street. As [Love] was walking away from [Houck], [Love] states [Houck] pushed [Love] causing him to fall to the ground.”
Further, the private complaint, which the court eventually dismissed because Love failed to show up, does not indicate Planned Parenthood “patients” or “reproductive access” were involved in the alleged incident, and therefore calls into question a charge under the FACE Act pending against Houck.
Notably, Houck’s account of the conflict centers around Love allegedly harassing his 12-year-old son while the pair were praying on the sidewalk. The pro-abortion enthusiast was hurling anti-gay slurs about Mr. Houck to the child, among other harassment, the family has claimed.
“Last year, Mark and his son were praying in front of the [Planned Parenthood] at 12th and Locust,” a GiveSendGo fundraising account for the family recounts. “When one of the escorts began harassing Mark’s son they walked down the street away from the entrance to the building. The escort followed them, and when he continued yelling at Mark’s son, Mark pushed him away.”
“It’s all on video,” the post continues. “But that hasn’t stopped Planned Parenthood and the Biden Administration. With no prior warning, and in spite of the fact that Mark is represented by an attorney, Biden’s Justice Department sent a fully armed SWAT team into a home full of young children at daybreak, to arrest a father for protecting his son.”
The Catholic father is facing 11 years behind bars and fines of up to $350,000.
