DOJ charges 9 anti-abortion protesters, police say 5 fetuses found in one's home

The Department of Justice charged nine anti-abortion protesters who blocked an abortion clinic, and five fetuses were found in one activist's home

The Justice Department has charged nine anti-abortion protesters with conspiring to obstruct access to a women's reproductive health facility in Washington, D.C., in October 2020, according to an indictment unsealed Wednesday afternoon.

Prosecutors say Lauren Handy, Jonathan Darnel, Jay Smith, Paula Harlow, Jean Marshall, John Hinshaw, Heather Idoni, William Goodman and Joan Bell all invaded the unnamed health facility on Oct. 22, 2020, and created a blockade to prevent patients from receiving abortions and other reproductive health services.

All have been charged with two counts of engaging in a conspiracy against individuals' civil rights and clinic access obstruction. If convicted, they could each face a maximum of 11 years in prison. Attorneys for each defendant were not listed on their court docket as of Thursday afternoon.

On Wednesday, the Metropolitan Police Department raided a home -- where Handy, a prominent anti-abortion activist who has previously faced state charges for carrying out a similar clinic protest in Michigan, lives, she told WUSA. The charges in Michigan were dropped after a lack of evidence.