Attorney General Merrick Garland claimed on Wednesday that the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation put their “full resources” into investigating the attacks on pro-life pregnancy centers.
Only two people have been charged and there have been over 200 attacks nationwide — including firebombing and arsons.
Garland discussed the issue during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing under questioning from Sen. Mike Lee, a Republican.
Lee pointed out that there have been far more arrests of pro-life activists than of pro-abortion militants.
“You are right that there are many more prosecutions with respect to the blocking of abortion centers,” Garland said. “But that is generally because those actions are taken with photography at the time, during the daylight. Seeing the person who did it is quite easy.”
“Those who are attacking pregnancy resource centers, which is a horrid thing to do, are doing this at night in the dark,” Garland continued. “We have put full resources on this.”
Merrick Garland says that the DOJ has prosecuted more pro-lifers for peaceful protests at abortion clinics than domestic terrorists firebombing pregnancy resource centers because the pro-lifers are doing it during the day and the centers are being bombed at night. pic.twitter.com/8abeyZiHLX
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) March 1, 2023
The FBI announced on June 17 that it is investigating the attacks as “potential acts of domestic violent extremism.”
Garland also pointed to the $25,000 rewards for information on the attacks that the FBI put out in January.
A militant pro-abortion group called Jane’s Revenge has urged and taken credit for many of these attacks — which have included vandalism, arson, and threats of violence.
The anonymous movement became active after a leaked draft opinion revealed that the Supreme Court would overturn Roe v. Wade.
In a manifesto posted by Jane’s Revenge on June 15, 2022, the group vowed to escalate their attacks after the Supreme Court’s decision. They also took credit for arsons and vandalism at pregnancy centers in “Madison WI, Ft. Collins CO, Reisertown MA, Olympia WA, Des Moines IA, Lynwood WA, Washington DC, Ashville NC, Buffalo NY, Hollywood FL, Vancouver WA, Frederick MA, Denton TX, Gresham OR, Eugene OR, Portland OR, among others.”
They stated, “we promised to take increasingly drastic measures against oppressive infrastructures. Rest assured that we will, and those measures may not come in the form of something so easily cleaned up as fire and graffiti.”
“From here forward, any anti-choice group who closes their doors, and stops operating will no longer be a target. But until you do, it’s open season, and we know where your operations are,” the post stated. “Through attacking, we find joy, courage, and strip the veneer of impenetrability held by these violent institutions.”
The agency is urging anyone with information on the attacks to call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), contact their local FBI office, or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov. They noted that those who report information may remain anonymous.
