Rep. Fischbach, Bicameral Coalition Demand DOJ Investigation into Deaths of Late-Term Preborn Babies at D.C. Abortion Clinic

WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach (R-MN), along with Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ), and over 50 Republican colleagues, sent a bicameral letter to Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche and US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro urging the US Department of Justice (DOJ) to thoroughly investigate the deaths of five late-term, preborn babies at a Washington, DC abortion clinic. The lawmakers are calling on the DOJ to determine whether these deaths were the result of federal crimes, including infanticide or violations of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act. “The Biden DOJ turned a blind eye to these atrocious acts and refused to uphold the law. These five babies were robbed of their lives, and those responsible must be held accountable," said Rep. Fischbach. "We are calling on President Trump’s DOJ to treat these horrific deaths with the seriousness they deserve, perform complete autopsies, and deliver long-overdue justice for these children.” In their letter, the coalition of lawmakers requests that the DOJ: Promptly complete a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding each child's death. Perform full autopsies and preserve all collected forensic evidence. Ensure proper, respectful burials for the infants once the investigation is concluded. Background In March 2022, the bodies of five late-term babies were recovered by the Metropolitan Police Department after being aborted at the Washington Surgi-Clinic, operated by late-term abortionist Dr. Cesare Santangelo. Medical experts who reviewed photographs of the deceased children found that four were viable premature infants, and at least one child bore severe injuries consistent with an illegal partial-birth abortion. If performed while the child was alive, such procedures directly violate the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003, which criminalizes the partial delivery of a living child to intentionally take their life. Despite repeated congressional inquiries, including a previous April 2022 bicameral letter, the Biden Administration's DOJ failed to conduct a comprehensive investigation and reportedly advised the Chief Medical Examiner to discard the infants' remains. The full text of the letter can be found here.