Trump Pardons 23 Pro-Life Activists Persecuted By Biden Administration

President Donald Trump has granted pardons to 23 pro-life advocates who were prosecuted under the Biden administration for their participation in demonstrations outside abortion clinics. The announcement was made Thursday, just one day before the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C.

Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump criticized the prosecutions, calling them “ridiculous” and emphasizing that many of those convicted were elderly individuals who should never have been charged. Among those pardoned were Lauren Handy and Paulette Harlow, both of whom faced prison sentences for their involvement in peaceful protests at abortion facilities.

The activists were convicted under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, a law that critics argue has been weaponized against pro-life demonstrators while pro-abortion activists face little scrutiny. Trump’s decision fulfills a campaign promise to address what he called the Biden administration’s politically motivated prosecutions.

The Thomas More Society, which represented several of those convicted, welcomed the pardons and stated that these individuals were unjustly punished for exercising their constitutional rights. The legal group had previously submitted petitions to the White House, seeking relief for nearly two dozen activists.

Republican lawmakers, including Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) and Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), have introduced legislation to repeal the FACE Act, arguing that the law has been misused to target peaceful demonstrators while ignoring crimes against pro-life organizations and churches.

Trump’s action comes as pro-life advocates gather in the nation’s capital to rally for the unborn and push for stronger protections for those advocating against abortion. Many see the pardons as a step toward correcting the perceived bias in how federal laws are enforced.