A Tennessee man reached a settlement agreement with the federal government after the Biden-era Department of Justice (DOJ) punished him for his pro-life beliefs.
Paul Vaughn, a father of 11 children, will receive $1.2 million in his settlement with the DOJ.
The pro-life activist was arrested in 2021 after participating in a demonstration that blocked an entrance to an abortion clinic in Tennessee, according to the DOJ.
The DOJ accused Vaughn (pictured above) of breaking the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act and conspiracy against rights violation. Ten other people were charged in the protest, along with Vaughn.
During the protest, the federal government claimed Vaughn delayed the Mount Juliet Police Department through negotiations.
According to the legal nonprofit Thomas More Society’s press release, the protest consisted of people praying, singing hymns, and peacefully protesting.
Vaughn received a sentence of three years of supervised release, with six months of home detention.
President Donald Trump pardoned Vaughn along with 23 other pro-life advocates. Vaughn’s legal case was on appeal at the time of his pardon.
Vaughn said his “family has been through a traumatic ordeal that never should have happened.” He added that he was “grateful” to the DOJ for “willing to look honestly at what the prior administration did to our family and so many others and attempt to make it right.”
“I am grateful to President Trump for the pardon that restored my good name, Thomas More Society for their tireless defense, and the countless people who stood with us in prayer,” he said last week.
“This chapter is finally closed, and our family looks forward with gratitude and hope, as we continue to serve God, advocating for the most vulnerable among us without fear,” Vaughn noted.
Steve Crampton, senior counsel at Thomas More Society, said Vaughn’s “family did nothing wrong.”
“Paul prayed and sang. He bore witness to his faith and for that, the full weight of the federal government was brought crashing down on his front door before the sun rose,” Crampton said.
“What was done to Paul and his family was a profound injustice, and we are grateful that this settlement acknowledges that. We also commend the Trump Department of Justice for having the courage to look at what its predecessor did, call it what it was—an abuse of power—and change course,” the attorney said.
“No American should ever again have to fear an FBI raid for praying and offering hope to women in need,” he added.
– – –
Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of The Star News Network. Email tips to Zachery at [email protected].
Photo “Paul Vaughn” by Thomas More Society.
