By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-01-23 22:27:00 | Updated at 2025-01-24 01:52:24
3 hours ago
President Donald Trump signed more pardons on Thursday freeing nearly a dozen pro-life protesters who were prosecuted by former president Joe Biden’s administration.
The protesters were prosecuted and sent to jail for singing songs, praying, and locking arms to block access to clinics providing abortions, as they urged women not to get abortions.
The president's pardons were signed by Trump just hours before pro-life activists gather in Washington, DC for their annual March for Life.
The president is expected to speak at the event from the White House and Vice President JD Vance is also expected to speak at the rally.
Biden’s Justice Department prosecuted the activists under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, a bill passed in 1994 in response to ongoing Christian protests at abortion clinics.
Pro-life activists criticized the Biden administration for prosecuting non-violent protesters and sending them to prison for lengthy sentences.
During a signing ceremony in the Oval Office, Trump said that he had pardoned 23 activists who had been prosecuted.
‘They should not have been prosecuted, many of them are elderly people, they should not have been prosecuted,’ he said. ‘This is a great honor to sign this.’
Trump’s staff informed him that some of them were in prison and some of them had already been released on supervision.
US President Donald Trump speaks to the media after signing Executive Orders in the Oval Office
President Donald Trump looks on as he issues executive orders and pardons
Supporters listen and hold up signs as President Donald Trump speaks during the annual March for Life rally
‘Ridiculous,’ Trump said after signing the pardons and showing the list to the press. ’They will be very happy.
The list of activists are expected to include: Lauren Handy, 30, sentenced to 57 months in prison; John Hinshaw, 69, sentenced to 21 months in prison; William Goodman Bronx, 54, sentenced to 27 months in prison; Jay Smith, 34, sentenced to 10 months in prison; Jonathan Darnel, 42, sentenced to 34 months in prison; Jean Marshall, 74, sentenced to 24 months in prison; Joan Bell, 76, sentenced to 27 months in prison; Herb Geraghty, 27, sentenced to 27 months in prison; Paula ‘Paulette’ Harlow, 75, sentenced to 24 months in prison; and Heather Idoni Linden, 59, sentenced to 24 months in prison.
Other cases highlighted by pro-life activists included Eva Edl, 89, of Aiken, South Carolina, who survived a Soviet-controlled concentration camp and came to America but was prosecuted by the Justice Department.
Trump frequently championed the cause of imprisoned pro-life activists, promising attendees of the Faith and Freedom Coalition to free them and 'get them out of the gulags and back to their families where they belong.'
“Many people are in jail over this. This is just crazy. We’re going to get that taken care of immediately. First Day. Immediately,” Trump said.
