(LifeSiteNews) – After LifeSiteNews broke the story about the two dozen FBI agents, guns drawn, besieging pro-life hero Mark Houck’s home and terrifying his wife and seven young children, the story was quickly picked up and amplified by other online and print news outlets.
Over the weekend, no less than two dozen media organizations repeated the story, citing LifeSiteNews, including Fox News, the Daily Wire, the Washington Times, the Epoch Times, and the New York Post.
READ: Spokesman for pro-life Catholic dad of 7 raided by FBI to speak exclusively to LifeSiteNews
Most focused on the over-the-top, way out of proportion show of force the FBI used to terrorize and intimidate the beloved pro-life activist and his family.
Breitbart headlined its story: “FBI SWAT TEAM RAIDS HOME OF CATHOLIC PRO-LIFE ACTIVIST AS ‘SCREAMING’ CHILDREN WATCH.”
UPDATE (01/30/23): Mark Houck has been AQUITTED on both charges!
Thanks be to God LifeSiteNews can report that Mark Houck has been found "Not Guilty" on all counts today.
In a statement to LifeSiteNews, Pro-Life Coalition of Pennsylvania spokeswoman and Houck family friend Ashley Garecht said “We rejoice and celebrate that Mark Houck has been found not guilty on all counts.”
“This case was always about a father’s right to protect his son, and never had anything to do with the FACE act,” she said. “We are grateful to the judge for his integrity, and to the jurors for their thoughtful deliberations. We are grateful to Mark’s attorneys who labored so diligently in his defense. And we are grateful for all of those who surrounded and supported Mark and his family in prayer through this challenging ordeal.”
“Most of all we praise and thank God for his protection and provision,” Garecht added. “To Him be all the glory.”
The Thomas More Society is set to hold a press conference today on the 6th street side of the James A. Byrne U.S. Courthouse, 601 Market Street, Philadelphia.
Monday’s verdict came after a tense weekend wait following a deadlocked jury on Friday.
Several hours into Monday’s deliberations after the jury reconvened, an alternate was chosen to replace one of the jurors. Just before 3:00 p.m. EST, the jury delivered its verdict, acquitting Houck on both charges.
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Mark Houck, a pro-life Catholic father of 7, became the latest victim of an FBI raid and arrest on the morning of Friday September 23 — for supposed “FACE (Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances) (Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances) Act” violations — at his rural home as his children looked on “screaming.”
The arrest and raid stems from an altercation with a Planned Parenthood worker.
According to Mark’s wife Ryan-Marie, a “pro-abortion protester” would verbally harrass Mark's 12-year old son — hurling vulgar and derogatory statements.
When the protestor encroached in the boy's space, Mark defended his son. At that point, “Mark shoved him away from his child, and the guy fell back,” Ryan-Marie recounts.
The protestor was not injured, but he tried to sue Mark Houck for the assault but his case was thrown out of court in the early summer.
WE CANNOT ALLOW THE LEFT TO HARRASS PRO-LIFE ADVOCATES THIS WAY!
It's vital to stand in solidarity with a pro-family and pro-life man being unjustly persecuted - please SIGN & SHARE our message of support now.
In case you hadn't caught on already, the satanic Biden administration is waging war on Christians. https://t.co/E6ChpZVDYW
— Michael (X) Knowles ✊ (@michaeljknowles) September 24, 2022
The description of this arrest sounds like it took place in a totalitarian state. A tragic unraveling of Justice in America. https://t.co/e3vEID7E39
— Bishop J. Strickland (@Bishopoftyler) September 25, 2022
If convicted, Houck faces up to a maximum of 11 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and fines of up to $350,000, according to the Justice Department.
Additional conservative pro-life leaders have weighed in — this is why we need your support ASAP.
“Just in the last few days we’ve seen some pretty glaring examples of what appear to be instances of DOJ [Department of Justice] overreach. You’ve got a Catholic father of seven who formed a group designed to encourage young men to be faithful to their commitments, arrested in front of his seven children just recently. You’ve got all these instances of overreach. It’s deeply concerning to us all. These are all things we’re gonna be looking into.” — US Senator Mike Lee
Tell the Houck family that you stand by them!
SIGN: We stand with pro-life Catholic dad of 7 raided by Biden’s FBI
Please share this petition widely. Let's stand in solidarity with Mark Houck and his family.
Thank you.
Instead of showing a picture of the Houck family, Breitbart chose to post a photo of U.S. Attorney General, Merrick Garland at the top of its article. Last month, in a highly controversial move, Garland approved a similar FBI raid on former President Donald Trump’s Mar-A-Lago residence in Florida.
The Washington Examiner’s Quin Hillyer wrote a commentary titled, “In raid on home with seven children, FBI again acts dangerously thuggish.”
“If the FBI and the Justice Department want critics to stop portraying the bureau as a menace to society, maybe FBI leaders and agents should stop acting like menaces,” wrote Hillyer.
National Review continued the theme of the FBI’s disproportionate show of force, headlining its article, “Pro-Life Activist Arrested After SWAT Team Raids Home with Guns Drawn in Front of ‘Screaming’ Children.”
CBN, the Christian Broadcasting Network, wrote, “FBI Raids Home of Pro-Life Christian With Guns Drawn as Family Watches in Horror.”
Other news outlets that picked up on LifeSiteNews’ breaking story were the GateWay Pundit, Catholic World Report, The Blaze, the Daily Signal, and PJ Media.
In a televised interview with Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo, Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah), accused the Justice Department of “overreach.”
READ: FBI raids home of Catholic pro-life speaker, author with guns drawn as his terrified kids watch
LifeSiteNews’ story on the Houck FBI raid also saturated the conservative “Twitterverse.”
Linking to the LSN article, Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas, wrote, “The description of this arrest sounds like it took place in a totalitarian state. A tragic unraveling of Justice in America.”
The description of this arrest sounds like it took place in a totalitarian state. A tragic unraveling of Justice in America. https://t.co/e3vEID7E39
— Bishop J. Strickland (@Bishopoftyler) September 25, 2022
“In case you hadn’t caught on already, the satanic Biden administration is waging war on Christians,” tweeted the Daily Wire’s Michael Knowles.
In case you hadn’t caught on already, the satanic Biden administration is waging war on Christians. https://t.co/E6ChpZVDYW
— Michael (X) Knowles ✊ (@michaeljknowles) September 24, 2022
“This is absurd. A blatant, partisan abuse of power,” tweeted Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz.
This is absurd.
A blatant, partisan abuse of power.#JusticeCorrupted https://t.co/si3OZJtc36
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) September 25, 2022
“As I’ve said, the Mar-a-Lago raid isn’t just about President Trump — it’s about all of us,” Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts wrote.
“Saying that doesn’t make someone an insurrectionist—if anything, it’s the DOJ that’s “threatening democracy,” explained Roberts.
As I’ve said, the Mar-a-Lago raid isn’t just about President Trump — it’s about all of us.
Saying that doesn’t make someone an insurrectionist—if anything, it’s the DOJ that’s “threatening democracy.”https://t.co/CRe7yOQYfQ
— Kevin Roberts (@KevinRobertsTX) September 24, 2022
Before linking to the LifeSiteNews account of the Houck FBI raid, famed investigative reporter Julie Kelly shared in a series of Tweets court documents illustrating that the U.S. “legal system is irrevocably broken.”
More here pic.twitter.com/pv2AVDwZZQ
— Julie Kelly 🇺🇸 (@julie_kelly2) September 26, 2022
“The US Attorney responsible for the case is a Biden appointee,” continued Kelly. “DOJ bragged in a press release that she’s the ‘first woman of color and the first person to identify as LGBTQIA+ to lead the Office.’”
“Oh and every GOP senator voted to confirm her in June,” added Kelly.
Full account herehttps://t.co/LfqaFAHJGr
— Julie Kelly 🇺🇸 (@julie_kelly2) September 26, 2022
Journalist Miranda Devine tweeted, “The DOJ is out of control. We need more conscientious objectors.”
FBI raids home of Catholic pro-life speaker, author with guns drawn as his terrified kids watch… The DOJ is out of control. We need more conscientious objectors. https://t.co/GiBmOcfuJp
— Miranda Devine (@mirandadevine) September 24, 2022
Conservative author David Limbaugh wrote simply, “You have got to be kidding me,” above his link to the LifeSiteNews story.
You have got to be kidding me. FBI raids home of Catholic pro-life speaker, author with guns drawn as his terrified kids watch – LifeSite. https://t.co/pNlPDS0T0I
— David Limbaugh (@DavidLimbaugh) September 24, 2022
“Hey here’s a great idea for an episode of CBS’ FBI!” teased conservative Hollywood star Nick Searcy.
Hey here’s a great idea for an episode of @fbicbs! @FBI raids home of Catholic pro-life speaker, author with guns drawn as his terrified kids watch – LifeSite https://t.co/3qaiCkJP0K
— Nick Searcy, INSURRECTIONAL FILM & TELEVISION STAR (@yesnicksearcy) September 24, 2022
“Biden’s weaponized DOJ raids Catholic family for peacefully opposing abortion,” declared Students for Life President Kristan Hawkins. “This is madness.”
More BREAKING NEWS: Biden’s weaponized DOJ raids Catholic family for peacefully opposing abortion. This is madness. https://t.co/TM0hHFqssB
— Kristan Hawkins (@KristanHawkins) September 24, 2022
Fox & Friends weekend co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy implied on Twitter that the DOJ and its enforcers now view pro-life Catholics as domestic terrorists.
“Biden’s FBI arrests Catholic pro-life dad with guns drawn in front of his terrified 7 kids. They coming for us!” wrote the alarmed TV host.
“Now we know what they meant by ‘rosary extremists.’”
By Monday morning, Daily Wire podcast host Michael Knowles acknowledged LifeSiteNews’ reporting in a segment titled, “Biden’s FBI Gets More Evil and Satanic.” Matt Walsh also cited LifeSiteNews in his podcast.