Trump pardons 23 anti-abortion protesters convicted under the FACE Act

Trump pardoned 23 individuals on January 23, 2025 convicted under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, a 1994 federal civil rights law protecting abortion clinic access. Lauren Handy, who led a 2020 Washington DC clinic blockade, received the longest sentence of 57 months; Jonathan Darnel received 34 months and Chester Gallagher 16 months for similar blockades. The pardons nullified federal FACE Act enforcement against this group and signaled the administration's intent to deprioritize prosecution of clinic access violations.