Anti-abortion activist acquitted of assault
In October 2021, anti-abortion activist Mark Houck outside an abortion clinic not only protested against abortion, but also pushed a clinic volunteer who was escorting two patients. Physical violence or the threat of physical violence against a person providing or receiving reproductive health services has been a federal crime since 1994. After the case was filed, Mr. Hauck was detained at his home by armed FBI agents and was awaiting trial free on bail with travel restrictions. As a result, the jury acquitted the defendant, since during the trial the latter proved that his actions were provoked by the victim himself, who insulted the protester’s son.
It is interesting that the jury could not reach a unanimous decision for a long time, but for unknown reasons one of the jurors dropped out and was replaced by a spare juror, with whom the entire jury was able to reach a unanimous not guilty verdict.
Author: Igor Slabykh
