Rev. Franklin Graham Comments on Legal Settlement for Pro-Life Activist

Rev. Franklin Graham recently pointed out a significant legal settlement involving pro-life activist Mark Houk, which follows a high-profile arrest in 2022 that involved federal agents and lengthy legal battles.

In a post on Thursday, Graham expressed his thoughts:

After pro-life advocate Mark Houk was arrested at gunpoint when 20 armed federal agents raided his home during the Biden administration, he and his wife have secured a settlement of over $1 million from the U.S. Department of Justice. This incident occurred because Houk intervened to defend his 12-year-old son against an aggressive Planned Parenthood volunteer while he was praying at an abortion facility. I truly appreciate this outcome and feel for what this family endured. It’s a win for Americans who cherish free speech and the sanctity of life.

Further details emerged on April 14 from EWTN News, revealing that Houk and his spouse indeed received a settlement exceeding $1 million from the U.S. Department of Justice. The case originated from a raid at their Pennsylvania home on September 23, 2022, where 20 armed agents arrested Houk in front of his family and interrogated him for hours.

According to his legal team, Houk voluntarily surrendered before his arrest. His wife and attorneys reported that agents pointed a gun at his head while their children were present. Yet, the FBI later stated that a SWAT team was not deployed, and that Houk was taken into custody without incident, although they didn’t deny the number of agents involved.

Houk faced charges under the Freedom of Clinic Admissions Act (FACE), a federal law concerning access to abortion facilities and places of worship. The accusations stemmed from a confrontation in 2021 outside a family planning center, where he was reportedly accused of pushing a volunteer amid a dispute over his son. Had he been convicted, Houk could have faced up to 11 years in prison and fines reaching $350,000.

He was acquitted in January 2023. Later that November, the Houk couple filed a lawsuit against the Department of Justice and the FBI. As detailed in the EWTN report, the family claimed they suffered psychological distress, including PTSD, reputational harm, financial strain, and anxiety for their children. Tragically, during the legal proceedings, Houk’s wife also experienced a miscarriage. The couple has seven children.

At the time of the arrest, 22 members of Congress were present. Representative Chip Roy (R-Texas) questioned the necessity of deploying so many armed agents and called on Attorney General Merrick Garland to clarify the operation’s details.