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Pro-life father whose home FBI raided appeals ruling by ‘activist’ judge: ‘Faulty investigation’
FIRST ON FOX— Pro-life activist Mark Houck, who sued the Justice Department over his arrest and prosecution under the Biden administration, said his family has been blocked from settling their lawsuit by an «activist» federal judge.
Houck filed a lawsuit against the Justice Department last year, seeking restitution for what he called «a faulty investigation» and «excessive force» after a SWAT team of around 25 people arrested him in front of his children.
Now, Houck is appealing the judge’s decision to the Third District Court and calling on the Trump administration to follow through on ending the weaponization of the DOJ against pro-lifers such as him once and for all. He discusses the case with his wife and 40 Days for Life founder Shawn Carney in a new video shared with Fox News Digital.
«You live in fear of it happening again, not only to yourselves but to others, and you want to know that this administration, which rode this message to the White House, is willing to step in,» Houck said in the video, adding, «and they’re doing it for other organizations, they’re doing it in the DOGE, they’re doing it with all the things, they’re cleaning house.»
PRO-LIFE JOURNALIST ASSAULTED ON STREET ASSIGNS BLAME TO DEMOCRATIC RHETORIC
Mark Houck (right) and his wife, Ryan, sit down for an interview with 40 Days for Life founder Shawn Carney. (40 Days for Life)
In an interview with Fox News Digital, 40 Days for Life President Shawn Carney said: «I just think, Democratic or Republican, we’re tired of activist judges on both sides of the political aisle.»
«Nobody likes it – and just, this guy’s a victim,» Carney said, adding that the Justice Department «needs to fix this.»
News of the appeal, which is slated to be filed by 40 Days for Life on behalf of Houck, was shared exclusively with Fox News Digital. The group has already filed a Notice to Appeal to the courts.
At issue are the settlement negotiations that 40 Days for Life entered into with the Justice Department in early 2025, following Trump’s inauguration.
U.S. District Judge Paul Diamond, a Bush appointee, abruptly issued a motion to dismiss the case last month, effectively ending the negotiations that had been playing out between Houck and the Trump-led Justice Department.
FEDERAL JUDGES IN NEW YORK AND TEXAS BLOCK TRUMP DEPORTATIONS AFTER SCOTUS RULING
(Shawn Carney of 40 Days for Life spoke to Fox News Digital about Mark Houck’s appeal.)
It appears that the motion to dismiss the case had originally been filed by the Biden-led Justice Department, which charged Houck in 2021 for allegedly violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances, or FACE Act.
In the video, Carney and Houck discussed the judge’s decision as well as changes in the law enforcement community more broadly, and what they hope to be new priorities of the second Trump administration.
Houck said his family is disappointed by the judge’s actions and added that «it reflects poorly against the Trump administration.»
Speaking with Fox News Digital, Carney lamented the dismissal of their lawsuit by Diamond, whom he called an «activist» judge and accused of political bias. Nevertheless, he expressed confidence that the Trump administration would make it right.
PENNSYLVANIA JURY ACQUITS PRO-LIFE ACTIVIST MARK HOUCK ON CHARGES OF OBSTRUCTING ABORTION CLINIC ACCESS
Family photo of Mark Houck, a pro-life activist arrested by the FBI, with his children. (Thomas More Society)
«We are appealing the decision of the judge to continue the lawsuit against the DOJ,» Carney said. «And of course, if we could get back on track with that, the idea is that then we would be able to settle with DOJ, since they want to settle.»
«We have a very strong appeal,» he said of their yet-to-be-filed brief. «We’re very confident about the appeal.»
The FBI and Department of Justice did not respond to requests for comment.
Houck, a longtime volunteer with 40 Days for Life, was arrested in 2021 for his actions outside a Planned Parenthood clinic, which prosecutors said violated the so-called Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, or FACE Act.
He was acquitted by a Philadelphia jury, but could have faced up to eleven years in prison if convicted.
Both his high-profile arrest at home, and the lengthy prison sentence he could have faced if convicted, prompted outrage from pro-life groups, including 40 Days for Life, where Houck has volunteered since 2007.
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Pro-life crowd cheers over Supreme Court decision. (Joshua Comins/Fox News)
In 2023, after Houck’s acquittal, 40 Days for Life joined Houck in suing the Justice Department over the ordeal, accusing law enforcement personnel of conducting a «faulty investigation» against him, and accusing law enforcement of using «excessive force» in the FBI raid of his family home.
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Carney has weighed in on the topic before, saying in a post on X this year that 40 Days for Life was «targeted constantly by the Biden DOJ.»
«With 1,000,000 peaceful volunteers we will always fight for free speech for pro-life and pro-abortion Americans alike. God bless Trump and Vance for backing us up,» said Carney.
Donald Trump,Federal Courts,White House,Justice Department,Federal Courts,Abortion
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At least a dozen states are scrambling to limit health insurance premium hikes after Congress failed to renew enhanced Obamacare subsidies, leaving millions of Americans facing higher health care costs.
States including California, Colorado, Maryland and New Mexico have approved or are considering temporary measures to help some residents afford coverage, but some officials across the country said the cost of replacing federal subsidies for millions of enrollees is beyond the reach of state budgets, according to Politico.
«We can carry the cost for a little bit, but at some point, we will need Congress to act,» New Mexico House Speaker Javier Martínez told the outlet. New Mexico is so far the only state to fully replace the expired subsidies.
Obamacare, officially known as the Affordable Care Act, was former President Barack Obama’s signature piece of legislation which expanded healthcare coverage to millions of Americans in 2010. Critics argue it forced people to buy insurance, raised costs for some consumers and significantly expanded the federal government’s role in health care.
SPEAKER JOHNSON EKES OUT HEALTHCARE BILL VICTORY AFTER HOUSE GOP OBAMACARE REBELLION
At least a dozen states are scrambling to limit health insurance premium hikes after Congress failed to renew enhanced Obamacare subsidies, leaving millions of Americans facing higher health care costs. (iStock)
The looming expiration of the subsidies hung over negotiations during the longest-ever government shutdown in the fall, as Republicans and Democrats tried — and failed — to pass competing plans to extend or replace the enhanced tax credits.
The lapse of the subsidies is expected to push millions of Americans out of the individual insurance market, increasing pressure on state Medicaid programs and hospitals already facing financial strain. State responses have varied widely, reflecting political divisions, fiscal constraints and differing views on the Affordable Care Act.
According to Politico, California, which anticipated the subsidies would expire, is spending nearly $200 million to support roughly 300,000 lower-income residents, but officials warn that hundreds of thousands more could still lose coverage.
COLLINS, MORENO UNVEIL OBAMACARE PLAN AS REPUBLICANS SEARCH FOR SOLUTION TO EXPIRING SUBSIDIES
Obamacare, officially known as the Affordable Care Act, was former President Barack Obama’s signature piece of legislation which expanded healthcare coverage to millions of Americans in 2010. (By Lea Suzuki/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images; Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Some states are using regulatory maneuvers rather than direct funding to stretch remaining subsidies. Other states, including Georgia and Washington, say budget shortfalls or political opposition prevent them from acting.
Most states have taken no action at all, including both Republican-led states that oppose the Affordable Care Act and some Democrat-led states that support it, according to Politico.
A few lawmakers in Maine and other battlegrounds worry their efforts could disincentivize Congress from coming up with a federal solution.
Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, announced their plan to extend expiring Obamacare subsidies by two years, include income caps and end zero-cost premiums. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images ; Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
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Earlier this month, Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, held bipartisan confabs to hash out a framework for an Obamacare fix that could meet the desires of both sides of the aisle, but it has not been formally written into a bill that passed either chamber yet.
Any fix would likely involve a short-term extension of subsidies paired with Republican demands for guardrails, such as income limits or cost controls.
Fox News’ Alex Miller contributed to this report.
politics,health,barack obama,california,senate,republicans,democratic party
INTERNACIONAL
Evidencias desoladoras de los ataques aéreos de Trump aparecen en una península colombiana
Restos
Erika Palacio Fernández dijo que grabó un vídeo del humo sobre el agua que resultó provenir de un barco que estaba en llamas. (Federico Ríos/The New York Times)
Vicente Fernández, un pescador local, dijo que le daba miedo pescar demasiado lejos en el océano. (Federico Ríos/The New York Times)Entierro
Contrabando
INTERNACIONAL
Taiwán detectó 130 aeronaves militares del régimen chino durante las maniobras militares de Beijing alrededor de la isla
El régimen de China intensificó este martes su presión militar sobre Taiwán tras la detección de 130 aeronaves militares del Ejército Popular de Liberación (EPL) en las inmediaciones de la isla en un lapso de 24 horas, en el marco del segundo día de ejercicios con fuego real que Beijing presentó como una simulación de bloqueo de puertos estratégicos.
El Ministerio de Defensa de Taiwán informó que, desde las primeras horas del lunes hasta la mañana del martes, sus sistemas de vigilancia identificaron la presencia de 130 aviones militares chinos, además de 14 buques de guerra y ocho embarcaciones gubernamentales no especificadas. Según las autoridades de Taipéi, las maniobras constituyen un acto de intimidación militar con efectos directos sobre rutas de navegación marítima y aviación internacional.
La actividad aérea representó uno de los mayores despliegues registrados en un solo día alrededor de Taiwán. El ministerio taiwanés señaló que los aviones operaron en distintas zonas cercanas a la isla, en coordinación con unidades navales, en un contexto de ejercicios de gran escala anunciados por Beijing.
En paralelo, imágenes captadas por AFP mostraron el lanzamiento de cohetes desde Pingtan, una isla bajo control chino situada en el punto más cercano al territorio principal de Taiwán. Periodistas de la agencia observaron una salva alrededor de las 9:00 hora local, con estelas de humo blanco visibles en el cielo.
Al menos diez cohetes despegaron con segundos de diferencia y los estruendos se escucharon en distintos sectores de la isla. Turistas se acercaron a barricadas de madera frente al mar para registrar la escena con teléfonos móviles.
Poco después, el Ejército Popular de Liberación difundió un comunicado oficial. “A las 9:00 del 30 de diciembre, las fuerzas terrestres del Comando del Teatro Oriental del EPL realizaron ejercicios de fuego real de largo alcance en las aguas al norte de la isla de Taiwán y lograron los efectos deseados”, indicó la declaración.
Las maniobras, denominadas “Justice Mission 2025”, comenzaron el lunes y se extendieron durante dos días. Según el EPL, las fuerzas desplegaron destructores, fragatas, cazas y bombarderos, con el objetivo de ejecutar ejercicios de identificación y verificación, advertencia y expulsión, ataques simulados, asaltos a objetivos marítimos, además de operaciones antiaéreas y antisubmarinas.
El Comando del Teatro Oriental afirmó que los ejercicios realizados en aguas al norte y al sur de Taiwán “pusieron a prueba las capacidades de coordinación mar-aire y de bloqueo y control integrados”.
En ese contexto, el portavoz militar Shi Yi sostuvo que las maniobras constituyen “una severa advertencia contra las fuerzas separatistas de ‘independencia de Taiwán’ y una acción legítima y necesaria para salvaguardar la soberanía y la unidad nacional de China”.
La televisión estatal CCTV informó que uno de los ejes centrales del operativo consiste en un bloqueo de puertos taiwaneses estratégicos, entre ellos Keelung, en el norte de la isla, y Kaohsiung, en el sur. Autoridades chinas publicaron un mapa con cinco grandes zonas alrededor de Taiwán destinadas a los ejercicios, previstos hasta las 18:00 del martes hora local.
Desde Taipéi, el gobierno rechazó la operación. El Ministerio de Defensa afirmó que las zonas designadas por China, algunas situadas dentro de las 12 millas náuticas de la costa taiwanesa, afectaron el tránsito marítimo y aéreo internacional. En otro comunicado, sostuvo que las acciones del régimen chino “confirman aún más su naturaleza de agresor y lo convierten en el mayor destructor de la paz”.
La escalada se produjo tras una ronda de ventas de armas de Estados Unidos a Taiwán y declaraciones del primer ministro de Japón sobre la posibilidad de una respuesta militar de Tokio ante el uso de la fuerza contra la isla.
En Beijing, el canciller del régimen chino Wang Yi respondió con dureza. “En respuesta a las continuas provocaciones de las fuerzas pro independencia en Taiwán y las ventas de armas a gran escala de Estados Unidos a Taiwán, debemos, por supuesto, oponernos resueltamente y contrarrestarlas con firmeza”, afirmó en un discurso.
Añadió que cualquier intento de obstruir la unificación “inevitablemente terminará en fracaso”.
Por su parte, el presidente taiwanés Lai Ching-te aseguró en una publicación en Facebook que el territorio no busca “escalar el conflicto” ni provocar disputas. Un día antes, su oficina declaró que China mostró “desprecio por las normas internacionales y el uso de la intimidación militar para amenazar a países vecinos”.
El régimen de China considera a Taiwán parte de su territorio y no descarta el uso de la fuerza para tomar control de la isla, mientras el gobierno taiwanés rechaza esas pretensiones y denuncia el aumento de la presión militar en su entorno inmediato.
(Con información de AFP)
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