DOJ Dismisses 4 Prosecutors from FACE Act Cases under Biden Administration
The Justice Department has terminated the employment of four prosecutors connected to FACE Act prosecutions during the Biden administration. A government official confirmed the dismissals to CBS News.
Details of the Prosecutor Dismissals
Among those dismissed is Sanjay Patel, a well-known federal prosecutor within the Civil Rights Division’s criminal section. Patel had been placed on administrative leave last month prior to his termination. The firings occurred as a report on the FACE Act was nearing completion.
The FACE Act Explained
Enacted by Congress in 1994, the FACE Act addresses the growing threats women faced at reproductive health clinics. Violations of the Act can be categorized as:
- Misdemeanors: Nonviolent and first-time offenses.
- Felonies: Repeat offenses or those resulting in bodily harm or death.
The report on the FACE Act is being prepared by the Justice Department’s “weaponization working group,” which was formed early in the tenure of former Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Allegations and Context
A spokesperson for the Justice Department stated that personnel who were involved in weaponizing the FACE Act have been dismissed. The previous Trump administration claimed, without evidence, that the Civil Rights Division targeted conservative Christians for prosecution, particularly regarding anti-abortion sentiments.
Though the Justice Department also pursued cases against abortion rights activists accused of intimidating clinic workers, a draft of the report indicated that prosecutions primarily focused on anti-abortion Christians. Moreover, during his second term, President Trump pardoned several defendants convicted under the FACE Act during the Biden administration.
Continuing FACE Act Cases
Despite recent changes, the Justice Department has allowed investigations into remaining FACE Act cases involving abortion rights activists to proceed. In March 2025, one defendant from Florida received a 120-day prison sentence. Many former prosecutors who worked on FACE Act cases have since departed from the Justice Department.
This series of events underscores the complex dynamics surrounding the enforcement of the FACE Act and the various interpretations of its application under different administrations.
