23 for allegedly assaulting an abortion clinic volunteer a year ago in violation of the federal FACE Act. Mark Houck, 48, was arrested at his home in rural Bucks County, Pennsylvania, the morning of Sept. PHILADELPHIA (CNS) - The head of the Pro-Life Union of Greater Philadelphia said the FBI’s arrest of a prominent Catholic pro-life activist known for his sidewalk counseling outside a Philadelphia abortion facility is “a horrendous stunt to intimidate pro-lifers.” 23, 2022, on federal charges for allegedly physically assaulting a volunteer escort at a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic in Philadelphia in October 2021. The Kintnersville, Pa., resident was arrested Sept. “Saying that doesn’t make someone an insurrectionist-if anything, it’s the DOJ that’s ‘threatening democracy,’” he added.Mark Houck, co-founder and president of the King’s Men, a Catholic lay apostolate, is seen in this 2014 video.

Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts tweeted Saturday: “As I’ve said, the Mar-a-Lago raid isn’t just about President Trump-it’s about all of us.” (The Daily Signal is the news outlet of The Heritage Foundation.)

If convicted, Houck could have up to an 11-year prison sentence, and fines of up to $350,000. Attorney’s Office wrote in a Friday press release.Īuthorities released Houck later that day, but he now faces felony charges. He was indicted for violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, which “makes it a federal crime to use force with the intent to injure, intimidate, and interfere with anyone because that person is a provider of reproductive health care,” the Eastern District of Pennsylvania U.S. Mark and Ryan-Marie Houck’s seven children were traumatized and in tears as they witnessed their parents held at gunpoint and their father hauled away in handcuffs.Īfter his Friday arrest, Houck appeared before the U.S. This morning, a heavily armed SWAT team of dozens of FBI agents raided the home of Mark Houck of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, with his wife and terrified children inside over a case that was long thrown out by the District Court in Philadelphia. “The continued weaponization of the FBI and persecution by Joe Biden’s DOJ against ordinary Americans is an outrage,” Mastriano wrote, adding: Doug Mastriano, who is the Republican candidate for governor in Pennsylvania, released a statement following Houck’s arrest. Mark extended his arms to get the assailant away from his so.” Middleton added: “Mark will not be available until further notice under advice of counsel.” The man continued to lean in and verbally abuse. He stepped between them and asked him to stop.

“Mark shoved him away from his child, and the guy fell back… He didn’t have any injuries or anything, but he tried to sue Mark.”īrian Middleton, a friend of the Houck family, told The Daily Signal that “ was defending his son from a man who was verbally abusing his son. On one occasion, the man “kind of came into personal space,” Ryan-Marie Houck said. Her husband repeatedly told the man to stop verbally harassing his son, Ryan-Marie Houck explained. She added that on multiple occasions that a “pro-abortion protester” would say “crude … inappropriate and disgusting things” to their 12-year-old son, such as “your dad’s a fag” and other vulgar slurs. She said that her husband sometimes brought their eldest son with him. The District Court in Philadelphia investigated and dismissed the charge earlier this summer, Houck’s wife, Ryan-Marie, told Life Site News.

“They had big, huge rifles pointed at Mark and pointed at me and kind of pointed throughout the house,” Ryan-Marie Houck told the pro-life news outlet.Ĭatholic News Agency reports that the FBI confirmed that Mark Houck was arrested outside his home “without incident” Friday morning.Īccording to federal court documents, Houck was arrested on the charge that he assaulted a 72-year-old volunteer, whose name is not provided, at the Planned Parenthood Elizabeth Blackwell Health Center abortion clinic in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, twice on Oct. She says her husband pleaded with the FBI agents to be calm, referencing the couple’s seven children. It was all just very scary and traumatic,” Ryan-Marie Houck told Life Site News about her husband’s arrest, which she and her children witnessed. Houck’s wife, Ryan-Marie, told Life Site News that 25-30 FBI agents entered their home around 7 a.m. Mark Houck, a pro-life advocate and father of seven, woke up Friday morning to a team of FBI agents raiding his home in Kintnersville, Pennsylvania.

Philly fbi hostage rescue team