D.C. medical examiner will keep the remains of aborted babies recovered from abortion clinic, leaving open possibility of investigation and charges

02/21/2024 / By Laura Harris

The Washington, D.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) has confirmed its decision to not immediately dispose of the bodies of five late-term aborted babies recovered from an abortion clinic in the district following pressure from conservative lawmakers and pro-life advocates.

This abortion scandal first came to light in early 2022 after five sets of “human fetal remains” were recovered in a home in the district following a raid. This scandal has gained renewed attention following the decision of Thomas More Society lawyer Martin Cannon to send a letter to Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) after he got a call from the OCME that the Department of Justice (DOJ) had advised it “that there is no reason to keep those babies anymore.”

“If law enforcement will not investigate where probable cause raises a serious possibility of a federal crime in Washington, D.C., it seems the investigation falls on Congress itself,” Cannon wrote. (Related: Indiana doctor slammed for tweet celebrating abortion.)

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), a member of the Subcommittee on the Constitution, wrote a letter addressed to D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, Chief Medical Examiner Francisco Diaz and Chief of the Metropolitan Police Pamela Smith the next day. He “demanded in the strongest possible terms” that the OCME refrain from disposing of the bodies of the five aborted babies. Cruz, along with Representatives Chip Roy, Andy Biggs and Pat Fallon, led the call to stop the OCME from disposing of the remains.

According to the email exchange between the OCME and the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), which has been actively working to prevent the disposal of the baby remains, the bodies would not be disposed of on Feb. 9. The ACLJ, which represents clients including the Rev. Patrick Mahoney and his wife, Katie Mahoney, had informed D.C. officials of their intention to file an emergency writ of mandamus to ensure the proper burial of the aborted babies.

“We are pleased that the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner acknowledged our clients’ statutorily vested right, along with others, under §3-413 as a volunteer next of kin for the purposes of burying these babies,” said the ACLJ. “We are confident now that the statutory duty to not cremate these bodies has been triggered and we appreciate OCME’s expedient response to our application for the Mahoneys. As the situation continues to evolve, we stand ready to take any legal action necessary.”

“We were successful in preventing [the DOJ] and D.C. from destroying the evidence of potential crimes and from simultaneously blocking the honoring of these young lives with a proper burial. The D.C. government also indicated to us that they will respond to Congress’ demands. We continue to hope that D.C. will in fact conduct a formal investigation into these babies’ deaths,” ACLJ stated.

Pro-life activists will use “the D.C. five” remains as evidence against charges from the DOJ

The babies, referred to as “the D.C. five,” were allegedly aborted at Washington Surgi-Clinic by abortionist Cesare Santangelo. Pro-life activists Lauren Handy and Terrisa Bukovinac recovered the box of fetal remains, which included over 100 mutilated bodies of first-trimester babies, in March 2022 from the abortion clinic. The remains have been in the possession of the OCME for nearly two years. The abortions may have violated federal laws such as the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act or the Born-Alive Infant Protection Act.

Handy, who faces charges of violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, is now relying on these babies’ remains as crucial evidence in her defense against the charges from the DOJ.

Cruz weighed in on the controversy and warned that anyone involved in destroying evidence could be subpoenaed for a committee hearing.

“The D.C. Medical Examiner’s office does well to not destroy evidence. In case the office later gets cold feet and starts thinking about destroying evidence, here’s a free reminder: every person involved will be subpoenaed for a very unpleasant conversation at a committee hearing,” he said.

Meanwhile, Emily Erin Davis, VP of Communications for Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, criticized the Biden administration’s reluctance to investigate the potential federal abortion crime. So, she urged Congress to intervene.

“We call on Congress to step in now. The D.C. Five babies may have been unwanted, but they are not unworthy of investigation. The very same politicians that pretend to champion women and human rights are silent as mangled victims of their limitless abortion policies are thrust before their very eyes. The speak no, hear no and see no evil approach is being fully deployed against our most vulnerable members of society. Members of Congress with [the] agency must stand up and demand an investigation.”

Head over to Abortions.news for similar stories.

Watch this video about a twisted abortion clinic worker encouraging a mother to simply “flush her baby down the toilet.”

This video is from the War Room channel on Brighteon.com.

D.C. medical examiner will keep the remains of aborted babies recovered from abortion clinic, leaving open possibility of investigation and charges

Pro-life activists will use “the D.C. five” remains as evidence against charges from the DOJ

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