EXPOSED FBI INFORMANT INFILTRATES ANTI-ABORTION ACTIVIST MEETING

WASHINGTON D.C.—On Wednesday, February 21st, Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising (PAAU) Director of Activism, Lauren Handy, appeared in federal court after being surreptitiously recorded by an undercover informant for the Federal Bureau of Investigation during a recent PAAU meeting. The prosecutors attempted to claim this recording of Handy discussing plans for nonviolent direct actions in and around abortion businesses was a violation of her terms of release in her ongoing federal case which stipulate she is prohibited from entering abortion centers.

Handy made headlines last year when she along with 10 others including PAAU Executive Board member Herb Geraghty and pro-life icon Joan Andrews Bell were charged under the FACE Act (Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances). Each of the defendants are facing 11 years in federal prison for allegedly blocking access to a Washington D.C. all-term abortion business run by Cesare Santangelo, also known as “The Butcher of D.C.” in the fall of 2020. 

In the recording which was played in court yesterday, Handy discusses a nonviolent direct action tactic called #PinkRoseRescue which was planned for January 21st. 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.  

However, Judge Kollar-Kotelly who recently suggested there might be a right to abortion in the 13th Amendment, determined Handy could no longer be allowed to plan or lead actions that take place in and around abortion facilities for the duration of the trial. The updated language for her terms of release now specify that she cannot "conspire, plan, instruct, assist, abet, direct, or otherwise aid in any way others from entering reproductive services clinics for any reason other than for the receipt of such services." The trial is currently scheduled for August of this year.

The meeting hosted by PAAU where the recording was captured took place on Thursday, January 19th, 2023 at the Watergate Hotel in Washington D.C. While everyone who attended was vetted at the time of registration, there was only one individual who wasn’t personally known by anyone in attendance, the name he used was “Eric Mike Santos”. “Santos” was initially vetted and appeared in tagged photos on Facebook with other known pro-life activists but has since deleted his Facebook account. 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. 

Following the meeting, “Santos” made several attempts to follow-up directly with PAAU staff via email asking for specific information about PAAU’s planning practices, likely an attempt to gather additional information to be used against PAAU activists in court and to further their surveillance efforts. A photo of the suspected informant has been included below. 

The nonviolent actions planned at the January, 19th, meeting included visiting three local DMV area abortion businesses on January 21st, for a #PinkRoseRescue in which activists hand out roses and resources inside the buildings. On that morning, police were already at each of the specified locations upon the arrival of activists, and while at least one of those abortion centers closed for the day, the action itself was intercepted by law enforcement. Activists succeeded in protesting outside the final location as planned.

The FBI is working overtime to unjustly target peaceful nonviolent anti-abortion activism that abides by federal law! 

Founder and executive director of PAAU Terrisa Bukovinac says “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! This is a complete misuse and weaponization of the justice department and clearly demonstrates why the FACE Act must be fully and rapidly repealed”.

PAAU Director of Activism Lauren Handy says “You can’t arrest an idea. Oppression always backfires. 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.”

Press contact: Caroline Taylor Smith carolinesmith@paaunow.org 919-525-4431