The Thomas More Society has announced that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has reached a settlement with pro-life activist Paul Vaughn, after FBI agents raided Vaughn's home and arrested him in front of his wife and children in 2022.

Key Takeaways:

• Paul Vaughn, a pro-life activist, was arrested in an early morning raid at his home in 2022.

• Vaughn's arrest stemmed from a peaceful protest at an abortion facility in 2021.

• He was pardoned by President Trump in January 2025.

• This week, lawyers at the Thomas More Society announced that the Department of Justice has reached a settlement with Vaughn.

The Backstory:

In March 2021, Vaughn and other pro-life advocates participated in a peaceful protest at the Carafem abortion facility in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. Vaughn later emphasized the protest was non-violent, saying, “It was like church service in there, people sitting in the floor in the hallway, people singing hymns, reading scripture, praying... The purpose is to try to save babies today and most importantly be obedient to Christ.”

More than 18 months later, in the predawn hours of October 2022, FBI agents descended on Vaughn's Tennessee home with assault weapons drawn, terrifying his wife and children. They arrested Vaughn for the March 2021 incident, on a charge of conspiracy to violate the FACE Act. At the time of the home raid, FBI agents reportedly did not present an arrest warrant, nor did they tell Vaughn's wife why he was being arrested or where he was being taken.

Eventually, Vaughn was convicted of a misdemeanor FACE violation and a felony Conspiracy Against Rights violation, even though, as his law team from Thomas More Society noted, "his only involvement in the event consisted in serving as a messenger between the police and the peaceful protestors."

Vaughn, along with other pro-lifers, was pardoned by President Trump in January 2025.

READ: How Roe’s reversal triggered the Biden-Harris DOJ’s persecution of peaceful pro-lifers

The Details:

In a press release issued July 28, the Thomas More Society (TMS) announced that Vaughn had reached a settlement with the DOJ. As the law firm noted, "With this settlement, the federal government has now affirmed the Biden DOJ’s and FBI’s actions were an abuse of government power."

Steve Crampton, Senior Counsel at Thomas More Society, praised the settlement, saying:

“This 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. 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. No American should ever again have to fear an FBI raid for praying and offering hope to women in need.”

The Bottom Line:

In a statement, Vaughn expressed gratitude that he and his family will be able to now move forward.

“My family has been through a traumatic ordeal that never should have happened. But today brings an end to this portion of the story,” he said, adding:

“I am grateful to the members of this Department of Justice who were 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.

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.”