The Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising (PAAU) has issued a press release claiming that one of its meetings was infiltrated by an undercover informant for the FBI.
Last year, activist Lauren Handy was arrested, along with multiple other pro-life activists, on charges of “conspiracy against rights secured by the FACE Act, and committing FACE Act violations.” These individuals were later indicted by a federal grand jury. Handy and the other defendants allegedly “did willfully combine, conspire, and agree with one another … to injure, oppress, threaten, and intimidate patients and employees” of the Washington Surgi-Clinic in Washington, D.C. on October 22, 2020. They all face up to 11 years in prison.
Handy was released from prison by U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, who said she must stay away from the Washington Surgi-Clinic, its employees and any other abortion facility. Handy is now being accused of breaking those rules, though she reportedly did not personally enter any abortion facility.
The complaint, according to the PAAU press release, came after an undercover FBI informant allegedly recorded one of their meetings.
“In the recording which was played in court yesterday, Handy discusses a nonviolent direct action tactic called #PinkRoseRescue which was planned for January 21st,” PAAU’s press release said. “It was clear from the recording that Handy did not nor did she plan to physically visit any abortion centers. It was also apparent that neither Handy nor anyone else present at the meeting was engaged in the planning of any federal crimes.”
The meeting in question took place on January, and one attendee — using the name “Eric Mike Santos” — was allegedly not personally known by anyone in attendance, according to the press release.
“‘Santos’ was initially vetted and appeared in tagged photos on Facebook with other known pro-life activists but has since deleted his Facebook account,” the press release said. “He arrived late to the meeting, was wearing a black mask, and left early, likely a strategy to avoid engagement by any of the legitimate attendees. It is for these reasons and others that ‘Santos’ is believed to be an informant with the FBI and the source of the recording.”
And because of the recording, Handy is now being accused of violating the conditions of her release.
“She’s basically sending others to do what she cannot do,” Judge Kollar-Kotelly claimed. “She’s smart enough – give her credit – to make sure she’s not going herself.”
Prosecutors are now asking for GPS monitoring and a no-contact order be added to Handy’s case.
“Our position is she was conspiring with others to commit additional FACE Act violations,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Aloi told WUSA 9. “She is sending other people in to commit the same crimes she was charged with in this case.”
Yet PAAU continues to push back on the notion that this is a conspiracy, or that it is against the law.
“You can’t arrest an idea. Oppression always backfires,” Handy said. “Rescue is unstoppable and while I can no longer plan or assist others because of the government’s gag order the foundations have been set and the ball is in motion. Rescue is back and a new generation of activists aren’t going to be stopped by threats and surveillance from a government hellbent on murdering babies.”
“It is shocking that the FBI is spending time and resources to physically send informants into our spaces to secretly record the work of totally nonviolent life-saving actions which are compliant with federal law!” said PAAU’s founder and executive director Terrisa Bukovinac. “This is a complete misuse and weaponization of the justice department and clearly demonstrates why the FACE Act must be fully and rapidly repealed.”
