Rep. Roy and Sen. Daines lead colleagues in demanding DOJ explain ‘extraordinary overreach’ in FBI’s raid of pro-life activist’s home
WASHINGTON—On Tuesday, Rep. Chip Roy (TX-21), Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT), founder and chair of the Senate Pro-Life Caucus, and 20 of their colleagues demanded DOJ answer for the FBI’s raid of pro-life activist Mark Houck’s home using an “excessive level of force”.
"Surely, the FBI must have an extraordinary reason for showing up at the home of an American family, allegedly with roughly 25 heavily armed federal agents, and arresting a father in front of his seven children. At the moment, it appears to be an extraordinary overreach for political ends," the Members’ letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland reads.
According to the Houck family, roughly 25 armed FBI agents and 15 vehicles arrived at their home in the early morning of September 23rd, began pounding on the front door, and threatened to break in.
Rep. Roy and his colleagues pointed out that it appears state-level assault charges against Mr. Houck were dismissed by local authorities in Philadelphia.
"We request an explanation for the excessive level of force used by the FBI in this case, and why the power of federal law enforcement was once again used against an American citizen in what should be a state and local matter,” they concluded.
The 6 Senate signers include Sen. Steve Daines, Sen. James E. Risch, Sen. Mike Braun, Sen. Roger Marshall, M.D., Sen. Mike Crapo, and Sen. James Lankord. The 16 House signers include Rep. Chip Roy, Rep. W. Gregory Steube, Rep. Thomas Massie, Rep. Louie Gohmert, Rep. Matt Rosendale, Sr., Rep. Bill Posey, Rep. Mary E. Miller, Rep. Andy Biggs, Rep. Randy K. Weber, Rep. Ronny L. Jackson, M.D., Rep. Ralph Norman, Rep. Dan Bishop , Rep. Jody Hice, Rep. Bob Good, Rep. Jeff Duncan, and Rep. Paul Gosar, D.D.S.
Rep. Roy said:
Attorney General Merrick Garland oversees an increasingly politicized FBI that seems hell-bent on making examples of average American citizens who don't align politically with the administration.
Given what we know about it thus far that is what the case of the raid on Mark Houck's home appears to be. And the FBI should immediately answer for its apparent use of a 25-30 person swat team with guns drawn to target Mark Houck, a pro-life father of 7, for allegedly shoving a guy in front of an abortion clinic (while he maintains he was defending his 12-year-old son).
Congress owes the American people transparent accountability for any and all wrongdoing by the FBI and Garland's DOJ. Even further, the FBI needs a complete and total overhaul and we should return primary law enforcement power to the states and to get the Bureau out of the business of politics once and for all.
Sen. Daines said:
The FBI’s treatment of pro-life leader Mark Houck is chilling. Instead of allowing for a local resolution of the dispute, the FBI nationalized the matter by using excessive force with an early morning raid at gunpoint in front of young children. The American people deserve answers.
Full text of the letter can be found below and at the link here.
Dear Attorney General Garland,
As you know, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is once again in the national headlines following another raid of an American citizen. This time, of Mark Houck, a father of seven, a noted Catholic, and a pro-life activist.
According to Ryan-Marie Houck, Mark Houck’s wife, roughly 25 FBI agents and around 15 vehicles arrived at the Houck residence in the early morning of September 23rd and began pounding on the front door. The agents allegedly stated that they were going to break into the home if the door was not opened while pointing approximately five weapons at the husband, wife, and potentially children.
Reportedly, this raid occurred in relation to an incident in which Mr. Houck allegedly pushed an abortionrights patient escort at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Philadelphia after the patient escort harassed and invaded the personal space of Mr. Houck’s 12-year-old son. There is much to learn about the extent of the FBI’s operations in this case, especially since state-level assault charges were apparently dismissed by local authorities in Philadelphia. Surely, the FBI must have an extraordinary reason for showing up at the home of an American family, allegedly with roughly 25 heavily armed federal agents, and arresting a father in front of his seven children. At the moment, it appears to be an extraordinary overreach for political ends.
We request an explanation for the excessive level of force used by the FBI in this case, and why the power of federal law enforcement was once again used against an American citizen in what should be a state and local matter. Please issue a written letter in response by Friday, September 30th, 2022.
Sincerely,
Chip Roy
Member of Congress
Steve Daines
U.S. Senator
James E. Risch
U.S. Senator
Roger Marshall, M.D.
U.S. Senator
Mike Braun
U.S. Senator
James Lankford
U.S. Senator
Mike Crapo
U.S. Senator
W. Gregory Steube
Member of Congress
Thomas Massie
Member of Congress
Louie Gohmert
Member of Congress
Matt Rosendale, Sr.
Member of Congress
Bill Posey
Member of Congress
Mary E. Miller
Member of Congress
Andy Biggs
Member of Congress
Randy K. Weber
Member of Congress
Ronny L. Jackson, M.D.
Member of Congress
Ralph Norman
Member of Congress
Dan Bishop
Member of Congress
Jody Hice
Member of Congress
Bob Good
Member of Congress
Jeff Duncan
Member of Congress
Paul Gosar, D.D.S
Member of Congress
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