10 Pro-Life Activists Await Trump Pardon After Biden DOJ Prosecutions

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ten pro-life activists remain incarcerated as they await a presidential pardon from newly inaugurated President Donald Trump, despite his campaign promise to swiftly address their cases. The activists, convicted under the Biden administration for non-violent protests outside abortion clinics, include individuals ranging in age from 28 to 89.

Among those imprisoned are Lauren Handy, 31; Herb Geraghty, 28; Joan Bell, 76; Jean Marshall, 77; Jonathan Darnell, 43; Heather Idoni, 60; William Goodman, 55; John Hinshaw, 70; Calvin Zastrow, 64; and Bevelyn Williams, 33. Many have been separated from their families for years, with some missing the births of grandchildren or struggling with health issues while behind bars.

During his campaign, Trump repeatedly vowed to pardon these activists, calling their prosecutions unjust. “Many people are in jail over this,” Trump said at the Faith and Freedom Coalition Conference in June. “We’re going to get that taken care of immediately [on the] first day.” However, as of January 23, 2025, no pardons have been issued.

The activists were convicted under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, a federal law designed to protect access to abortion clinics. Critics argue the Biden administration weaponized the law to target pro-life advocates, with 97% of FACE Act prosecutions between 1994 and 2024 directed at anti-abortion protesters.

Steve Crampton, senior counsel at the Thomas More Society, a conservative law firm representing many of the activists, called the prosecutions an abuse of power. “We hope by President Trump’s actions here that he will restore some sanity and rule of law to the approach of the Department of Justice and the FBI,” Crampton told Fox News Digital.

The Thomas More Society formally requested pardons for all 21 convicted activists on January 15, 2025. The group emphasized the non-violent nature of the protests and the advanced age of some defendants, including 89-year-old Eva Edl, a Holocaust survivor.

For the activists and their families, the wait for a pardon has been agonizing. “Every day that goes by is another day Bevelyn Williams spends away from her 2-year-old daughter,” said Coleman Boyd, another activist sentenced to house arrest. “We trust God to accomplish what is needful on our behalf.”

Trump’s decision to pardon these activists would further solidify his legacy as a champion of the pro-life movement, following his role in appointing Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers, including Sen. Mike Lee of Utah and Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, are pushing to repeal the FACE Act to prevent future administrations from using it against pro-life advocates.

As the activists await their fate, they remain steadfast in their faith. “We are resting and rejoicing in the Lord to suffer for His name’s sake as felons and even in prison if it means saving babies and preaching the Gospel,” Boyd told The Daily Signal.