Mike Lee Condemns Biden Administration Over Conviction of 89-Year-Old Pro-Life Activist, Calls it 'Evil'

Utah Senator Mike Lee (R) unleashed a scathing critique of the Biden-Harris administration on Tuesday following the conviction of 89-year-old pro-life activist Eva Edl. Edl, along with six other pro-life demonstrators, was found guilty in a federal court in Detroit on charges of conspiracy against rights and violating the FACE Act—a law often criticized for being disproportionately enforced against pro-life activists. The charges could result in over a decade in prison and hefty fines.

Lee didn’t mince words in his reaction to the news. “Kamala Harris and Joe Biden are sending an elderly survivor of communist prison camps back to prison using the FACE Act against pro-lifers,” Lee posted on X. “Evil.”

Edl’s life story is one of remarkable resilience. As a child, she was rounded up and forced into a concentration camp by the forces of Yugoslavian communist dictator Josip Broz Tito after World War II. After surviving the horrors of that regime, Edl immigrated to the United States, where she became deeply involved in pro-life activism, driven by her Christian faith.

The conviction of Edl and her fellow activists has sparked outrage among conservatives, who see the Biden administration’s actions as a gross miscarriage of justice. Lee has long been a vocal opponent of the FACE Act, repeatedly introducing legislation to repeal the Clinton-era law, which he argues is being weaponized against those who peacefully protest abortion.

Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), another staunch critic of the FACE Act, also voiced his dismay at the verdict. “89-year-old woman who survived communist prison camp in Eastern Europe… prosecuted by ⁦[Kamala Harris] regime… convicted – faces up to 10 years in prison. FOR PEACEFUL PROTEST OF ABORTION,” he posted on X.

The charges against Edl and the other activists stemmed from a peaceful demonstration at the Northland Family Planning Clinic in Sterling Heights, Michigan. The group, which included Chester Gallagher, Heather Idoni, Joel Curry, Justin Phillips, Cal Zastrow, and his daughter Eva Zastrow, participated in what they described as a “Rescue,” where they stood and sat outside the clinic, attempting to persuade women not to go through with abortions. Edl and Idoni were also convicted for participating in a similar protest at the Women’s Health Clinic in Saginaw, Michigan.

Throughout the trial, each of the defendants cited their faith in Jesus as their motivation for engaging in the protests, framing their actions as a moral imperative to protect the unborn.

After hearing closing arguments on Monday, the jury—composed of seven women and five men—deliberated for approximately 3.5 hours on Tuesday before returning a guilty verdict for all defendants.

As the legal process continues, with sentencing dates yet to be set, lawyers have the opportunity to submit briefings to Judge Matthew Leitman, who presided over the case, in hopes of getting the case dismissed.

The conviction of an 89-year-old survivor of communist persecution for peacefully protesting abortion marks a controversial and emotional flashpoint in the ongoing national debate over abortion rights and the limits of free speech.

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