DOJ accuses Biden admin of weaponizing abortion clinic law  

DOJ accuses Biden admin of weaponizing abortion clinic law  

The Biden administration unfairly used a federal law aimed at protecting abortion clinics from violence to target peaceful Christian protesters, according to a new Department of Justice report. 

What it says: The report from the Justice Department’s “Weaponization Working Group” accused former Attorney General Merrick Garland of being biased in his enforcement of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act by aggressively charging anti-abortion activists rather than abortion rights protesters. 

It also alleges Biden’s DOJ “closely collaborated with pro-abortion groups to track pro-life activists’ First Amendment activity” and initiated search warrants and charges on “evidence and dossiers” those groups compiled.  

DOJ view: “This Department will not tolerate a two-tiered system of justice,” acting-Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement announcing the report. “No Department should conduct selective prosecution based on beliefs. The weaponization that happened under the Biden Administration will not happen again, as we restore integrity to our prosecutorial system.”

View from critics: But the report included little evidence to back up its sweeping claims of politically motivated prosecutions and former DOJ attorneys said it ignored multiple court rulings and jury verdicts that resulted from the charges.  They said the report mischaracterized a surge in violence, threats and blockades directed at abortion clinics as peaceful protests and expressions of religious faith.  Trump’s moves: Shortly after taking office last year, Trump pardoned 23 people accused of FACE Act violations, including a group convicted of a 2020 planned blockade of a District of Columbia-area abortion clinic. Protesters bound themselves with chains and locks and physically obstructed clinic staff and patients during the blockade, which was livestreamed on social media. 

Earlier this year, the Justice Department charged 39 people — including former CNN anchor Don Lemon — with FACE Act violations stemming from their involvement in an anti-ICE protest at a church in St. Paul, Minnesota. 

Welcome to The Hill’s Health Care newsletter, we’re Nathaniel Weixel and Joseph Choi — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health.

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How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond:

Trump DOJ accuses Biden admin of ‘weaponization’ of abortion clinic law

The Trump administration in a new report Tuesday accused the Biden administration’s Justice Department of using a law historically meant to protect abortion clinics to selectively prosecute anti-abortion protesters. The report from the Justice Department’s “Weaponization Working Group” accused former Attorney General Merrick Garland of being biased in his enforcement of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances …

Novo Nordisk partners with OpenAI in weight loss drug race

Novo Nordisk, the maker of popular weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, is partnering with OpenAI to deploy the technology across its operations as it looks to keep pace with rapid expansion in the obesity drug market. The Danish company announced in a statement on Tuesday that it would use AI to analyze complex datasets, identify promising drug candidates and reduce the time between research and patient application. …

Minority of voters identify with MAHA despite some support for its goals: Poll

New polling conducted by the progressive political action committee 314 Action found that, despite a decent degree of support for some aspects of the “Make America Healthy Again” agenda, very few voters actually identify as being part of the movement. The polling, released Tuesday, found that while 39 percent of voters say they support many of MAHA’s goals, only 14 percent consider themselves a part of the …

Upcoming news themes and events we’re watching:

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testifies later this week across three House committees: find him Thursday at Ways and Means in the morning and Appropriations in the afternoon. Kennedy will appear Friday at the Education and Workforce Committee 

The Senate HELP Committee holds a Thursday hearing on boosting generic drug competition 

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Branch out with a different read from The Hill:

Judge rules that HUD effort to change criteria for homeless funding is unlawful

A federal judge in Rhode Island ruled on Tuesday that the Trump administration’s effort to dramatically change the criteria to get tens of millions of dollars in funding to aid homeless people was unlawful. Several nonprofits filed a lawsuit last year accusing the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development of changing the rules …

Local and state headlines on health care:

State health officials to release measles update Tuesday as South Carolina nears outbreak’s potential end (South Carolina Public Radio) 

Tennessee Republicans halt path to medical marijuana after federal shift (The Tennessean) 

20 years later: How Massachusetts health care reform changed access (WCVB) 

Health news we’ve flagged from other outlets:

Some people don’t lose weight with GLP-1s. Evidence is building that the drugs are helping anyway (CNN) 

US states drop Medicaid coverage of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs as demand rises (The Guardian) 

For Ben Sasse, Revolution Medicines’ pancreatic cancer trial felt like his best, only option (Stat) 

Opinions related to health submitted to The Hill:

Gambling addiction is soaring: The SAFE Bet Act can stop it getting worse

What banking can teach health care about protecting patient data

You’re all caught up. See you tomorrow! 

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