The Functional Government Initiative (FGI) has released documents suggesting that abortion groups may have influenced Department of Justice (DOJ) investigations into pro-life Americans. The records, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, indicate the involvement of the National Abortion Federation (NAF) in federal Freedom to Access Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act investigations.
Emails from January 2023 show Robert Ledogar, a security officer for NAF, contacted then-Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke. He requested a meeting before the annual March for Life event on January 20. Ledogar mentioned that his team would attend pro-life events to identify and monitor individuals opposing reproductive health care.
Ledogar highlighted an existing relationship between NAF's Security Director Michelle Davidson and members of the DOJ Civil Rights Division, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Sanjay Patel. Patel, who led several FACE Act prosecutions in August 2023, is now facing scrutiny from the House Judiciary Committee over his handling of a case against pro-life advocate Robert Hauck.
In his email, Ledogar said that NAF had participated in several DOJ investigations alongside Assistant U.S. Attorneys and the FBI across multiple states: Tennessee, Florida, California, New York, Maryland, and North Carolina. He praised the guidance received from Washington D.C.-based teams as "nothing short of superb."
Clarke forwarded Ledogar's meeting request to Deputy Assistant Attorney General Robert Moossy and copied Patel on the email. Moossy responded with no concerns about the invitation.
These interactions raise questions about potential undue influence by NAF and other abortion activists on DOJ investigations. Concerns have been voiced regarding whether such influence compromised civil rights or affected convictions under the FACE Act.
Roderick Law, FGI spokesman, commented: "These emails reveal undue influence of abortion activists on federal law enforcement investigations and violations of DOJ norms." He further said that actions by the Biden DOJ Civil Rights Division might have violated civil rights protections for those convicted under the FACE Act.
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