Its been a federal crime for nearly 30 years to intimidate or interfere with any person trying to obtain or provide reproductive health care services. But two recent indictments by the Department of Justice for such violations have enraged some influential conservatives, who are now stoking a false narrative about a supposed war against the religious right.

It started with prominent anti-abortion minister Mark Houck, who late last month was arrested on federal charges that he allegedly twice assaulted a 72-year-old patient escort outside of a Planned Parenthood in Philadelphia. If proven, it would be a clear violation of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, a 1994 law that makes it a federal crime to use force or the threat of force to injure, intimidate or interfere with any person trying to obtain or provide reproductive health care services.

Earlier this week, 11 anti-choice protesters were arrested on the same federal charges after the group created a blockade in front of a Tennessee abortion clinic, livestreaming the event on Facebook as they actively prevented a patient and employee from entering. The group in Tennessee openly acknowledged what they were doing was a crime when one protester told the rest: If youre not planning on being arrested, do not sit in front of the door, according to the indictment.

But to hear many prominent conservatives tell it, the arrests were dramatic abuses of power by the Biden administration.

Biden Has Declared War On Conservative Christians, blared a headline for a Tucker Carlson segment about the Houck arrest. The hosts of Fox & Friends posited the ministers arrest was the start of the weaponization of the DOJ and the FBI for Bidens pro-choice purposes.