Summary
A newly released report from the Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias, established by Executive Order 14202, alleges that the Department of Justice (DOJ) under the Biden Administration (2021–2025) engaged in selective enforcement and policy decisions that disproportionately targeted Christians, particularly pro-life advocates. The report details the DOJ’s aggressive use of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act against Christian activists, disparities in sentencing, and collaboration with abortion advocacy groups. It further criticizes the DOJ for failing to protect Christian institutions amid a significant rise in attacks, neglecting enforcement of religious liberty statutes, and mishandling high-profile religious freedom cases. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, in a Fox News appearance, underscored the report’s findings and pledged to restore fairness and religious liberty protections. The Task Force recommends immediate policy reversals, accountability measures, and strengthened oversight to prevent future bias.
Detailed Report
1. Task Force Report Unveils Allegations of DOJ Bias
During the Biden Administration, the DOJ prioritized enforcement actions related to reproductive rights, gender identity, and public health mandates. According to the Task Force report and corroborating Congressional testimony, this period saw a marked increase in federal prosecutions of pro-life activists, most of whom were Christian, under statutes such as the FACE Act. The DOJ’s approach was characterized by aggressive legal strategies and a focus on cases involving abortion clinic access, while critics noted a lack of comparable action to protect Christian organizations and individuals from discrimination or violence.
2. Weaponization of the FACE Act Against Christian Activists
The Task Force asserts that the DOJ “weaponized” the FACE Act by disproportionately prosecuting Christian pro-life demonstrators. Reports indicate that nearly all FACE Act prosecutions during this period targeted anti-abortion protesters, with little to no enforcement against those who attacked crisis pregnancy centers or churches. The DOJ’s actions included high-profile cases in Tennessee and Michigan, where Christian activists faced severe penalties for clinic blockades, and were often charged with both conspiracy and FACE Act violations.
3. Sentencing Disparities in FACE Act Prosecutions
The report highlights significant disparities in sentencing recommendations and outcomes. DOJ prosecutors sought an average sentence of 26.8 months for pro-life defendants, compared to 12.3 months for pro-choice defendants prosecuted under the same statute. Actual sentences averaged 14 months for pro-life activists, while pro-abortion defendants received an average of 3 months. These figures, drawn from DOJ records and court documents, are cited as evidence of selective prosecution and unequal treatment.
4. DOJ Collaboration with Abortion Advocacy Groups
According to the Task Force, DOJ officials maintained close communication with abortion advocacy organizations, including the National Abortion Federation and Planned Parenthood. These groups reportedly provided the DOJ with detailed dossiers on pro-life activists, containing personal and family information. The DOJ used this information to monitor and prosecute individuals, raising concerns about privacy and impartiality in federal investigations.
5. Failure to Protect Christian Institutions Amid Rising Attacks
Despite an eightfold increase in attacks on Christian churches and pro-life centers from 2018 to 2023, the DOJ was criticized for failing to enforce the FACE Act’s civil protections for these institutions. The report documents a lack of prosecutions for vandalism, arson, and threats against Christian facilities, even as such incidents escalated following the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision. Congressional hearings echoed these concerns, highlighting a perceived double standard in DOJ enforcement priorities.
6. Non-Enforcement of Religious Liberty and Anti-Discrimination Laws
The Task Force found that the DOJ did not actively enforce the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) to protect Christian houses of worship, nor did it ensure access to worship services under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Additionally, the DOJ was criticized for failing to address employment discrimination against Christians, with documented cases where individuals were denied accommodations or faced adverse actions due to their religious beliefs.
7. Washington State Confession Law: A Case Study in Religious Freedom
A notable case involved the DOJ’s response to a Washington state law requiring clergy, including Catholic priests, to report suspected abuse disclosed during confession. The DOJ initiated a civil rights investigation but was criticized for inadequately defending the sanctity of confession, which the Task Force and religious liberty advocates viewed as a core First Amendment issue. The report concluded that the law and the DOJ’s handling of it had a chilling effect on Catholic religious practice.
8. Military Vaccine Exemption Denials and Religious Liberty Concerns
The DOJ faced criticism for its role in denying the vast majority of religious exemptions to the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for military personnel. Of approximately 24,000 requests, only four were granted. Additionally, the DOJ sent a cease-and-desist letter to Catholic priests providing pastoral care at Walter Reed Military Hospital, a move widely condemned by Catholic organizations and members of Congress as an infringement on religious liberty.
9. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s Response to Task Force Findings
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, in a Fox News interview, reinforced the Task Force’s findings, stating, “No American should live in fear that the federal government will punish them for their faith.” Blanche described the DOJ’s actions as “devastating” for Christian Americans and pledged, “This Department will not tolerate a two-tiered system of justice. The weaponization that happened under the Biden Administration will not happen again, as we restore integrity to our prosecutorial system.” He further committed to exposing those who targeted Christians and restoring religious liberty protections.
10. Task Force Recommendations
The Task Force recommends immediate revocation of policies identified as unlawfully targeting Christians, referral of DOJ employees involved in misconduct for disciplinary or criminal action, legislative and executive measures to strengthen religious liberty protections, and ongoing oversight to ensure compliance with constitutional and statutory safeguards for religious exercise.
Conclusion
The Task Force report and supporting testimony allege that the Biden-era DOJ engaged in selective enforcement and policy decisions that disadvantaged Christians, particularly in the context of pro-life advocacy and religious liberty. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has pledged to reverse these practices and restore fairness and constitutional protections for all Americans of faith.