A Pennsylvania pro-life activist has secured a settlement exceeding $1 million after suing the Justice Department and FBI over his 2022 arrest, which drew national attention and criticism from conservatives.

Mark Houck, a father of seven, was taken into custody during a pre-dawn raid at his home by armed federal agents following an incident outside a Planned Parenthood facility in Philadelphia in October 2021. According to court filings and his legal team, Houck had been praying outside the clinic with his son when a confrontation occurred with a volunteer escort.

Federal prosecutors charged Houck under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, alleging he used force against the escort. Houck maintained that he acted to protect his child after the individual allegedly confronted and harassed his son.

The arrest sparked backlash from pro-life and religious liberty advocates, who argued that the use of a large federal response was excessive for the circumstances described.

In early 2023, a federal jury acquitted Houck of all charges after less than an hour of deliberation, clearing him of potential penalties that could have included more than a decade in prison.

Following the acquittal, Houck and his family filed a civil lawsuit alleging malicious prosecution, false arrest, and abuse of process. The case has now been resolved with a seven-figure settlement, according to pro-life organization 40 Days for Life, which supported Houck.

Supporters of Houck say the outcome represents a significant victory for free speech and religious expression, while critics of the original prosecution have raised broader concerns about how the FACE Act is enforced.

The Justice Department had maintained that the charges were based on allegations of assault, though the jury ultimately rejected that case. The settlement closes a years-long legal battle that has remained a focal point in debates over federal law enforcement practices and First Amendment rights.