DOJ stonewalls congressional demands for FACE Act prosecution data

On Wednesday, Rep. Chip Roy released the following statement following the Department of Justice’s failure to turn over Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE Act) prosecution data by last Thursday’s deadline:

"Yet again, the Biden Administration is systematically stonewalling Members of Congress — in this case flat-out ignoring a demand for basic, historical information about FACE Act enforcement, that already exists, has already been compiled, and has already been provided to a left-wing organization.

This administration should release the data to the public immediately; what are they trying to hide?

The American people and their representatives must decide whether this administration or any presidential administration can be trusted with the power delegated to the DOJ by the FACE Act — an easily weaponized, likely unconstitutional statute that usurps state powers with the sole purpose of empowering the federal government to target citizens at will.

I will continue to hold this administration accountable for its unprecedented use of the FACE Act and Congress responsible for delegating sweeping power to unaccountable executive branch bureaucrats decades ago”

On October 17, 2022, Rep. Roy requested a copy of a DOJ Freedom of Information Act response containing a “never-before released” list of every FACE Act case filed by the Justice Department since 1994. This information had previously been given to reporters with the left-wing group Center for Investigative Reporting.

Rep. Roy’s letter gave DOJ a deadline of Thursday, October 20, 2022, which they failed to meet despite confirming receipt of the letter.

Rep. Roy has previously criticized DOJ for abusing the FACE Act to target Americans, including pro-life activists, for their beliefs.

Full text of the letter can be found here and below.

October 17, 2022

Director Bobak Talebian

Office of Information Policy

U.S. Department of Justice

935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, D.C. 20530-001

Director Talebian,

In May of this year, it was reported that a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request containing a “never-before released” list of every Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE Act) case filed by the Justice Department since 1994 had been released to Reveal, at the Center for Investigative Reporting, specifically investigative reporters Laura C. Morel and Mohamed Al Elew.

Articles referencing the FOIA can be found here and here.

Given that this document already exists, I request a copy of the document in question by Thursday, October 20, 2022.

Sincerely,

Chip Roy                                                                    

Member of Congress             

CC:

Carlos Uriarte

Assistant Attorney General

Office of Legislative Affairs

U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)