DOJ official acknowledges agency more strongly enforcing law against using force to block abortions

Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta has acknowledging that following the Supreme Court overruling Roe v. Wade this past summer, the Justice Department has been more strongly enforcing a 1990s law to prosecute anti-abortion activists.

Gupta said at an event earlier this month that the court's recent rulings on abortion "dealt a devastating blow to women throughout the country," according to Fox News.

The high court in striking down Roe, which ended federally protected abortion rights, also ruled on a companion case, Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health, which Gupta said has increased the "urgency" of the department's work "including enforcement of the FACE Act, to ensure continued lawful access to reproductive services."

The Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act of 1994 prohibits using force to prevent people from obtaining an abortion.

The law was barely used in 2020 and 2021, but more than two dozen people have been indicted under the law so far this year, according to the Justice Department.

The FBI has denied allegations that the investigations are politically motivated.

FBI Director Christopher Wray said last month: "We have quite a number of investigations as we speak, into attacks or threats against pregnancy resource centers, faith-based organizations, and other pro-life organizations."

He said about 70% of abortion-related violence investigations at his agency are related to threats against pro-lifers.