Mark Houck, a fervent pro-life advocate and father of seven, together with his spouse, has initiated legal action against the Department of Justice under President Biden, following a startling raid on his Pennsylvania residence last year. This raid, conducted by roughly 20 armed FBI agents, took place in the presence of his children, escalating tensions and sparking widespread controversy.
Houck, who spearheads a non-profit dedicated to offering guidance outside abortion facilities in Philadelphia, became the focus of DOJ scrutiny due to a 2021 altercation at a Planned Parenthood site. This incident involved Houck’s then 12-year-old son. Houck’s family contends that he was merely shielding his son from an aggressive pro-choice protestor. Despite facing potential imprisonment of 11 years and fines reaching $350,000, Houck was ultimately exonerated from charges related to violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE Act) in January.
The lawsuit, filed this Monday, demands $1.1 million for a range of allegations including malicious and retaliatory prosecution, false arrest, misuse of legal process, and assault, as reported by The Daily Signal. It characterizes Houck’s apprehension as an “unnecessary and illicit display of force,” violating his Fourth Amendment rights. The complaint alleges that officers employed “undue force” during the arrest on “non-violent charges,” highlighting that Houck had neither threatened law enforcement nor possessed a firearm, and had expressed willingness to surrender if indicted.
Ryan-Marie Houck, Mark Houck’s wife, is seeking a compensation of $3.25 million. According to the complaint, she has suffered multiple miscarriages since the traumatic arrest, attributed to stress and PTSD, culminating in infertility.
The lawsuit also details the emotional toll on Mrs. Houck, who has been coping with the distress of her seven children, each grappling with their trauma from the event. It describes how the children, plagued by nightmares and fear, sought comfort in sleeping with their parents for a month following the arrest and continue to be easily disturbed by any reminders of the incident or unexpected visitors at their home.
Reflecting on the events leading to the arrest, a fundraising page on GiveSendGo for the Houcks narrates how Mark Houck and his son, while praying outside the Planned Parenthood facility at 12th and Locust, were confronted by a clinic escort. When the escort persisted in harassing Houck’s son, even after they moved away from the clinic entrance, Houck reportedly pushed him away in defense. The fundraising post emphasizes that the entire incident was recorded, yet that didn’t deter Planned Parenthood and the Biden Administration from sending a heavily armed team to arrest Houck, a father merely protecting his child, without prior notice, despite Houck having legal representation.