U.S. Opens First Probe Linked to Abortion Clinic

The Justice Department, prodded by Congress, has opened its first criminal civil rights investigation into the harassment of a woman at a New York abortion clinic, Rep. Don Edwards (D-San Jose) said today.

The department, which has been criticized by civil rights groups for failing to act more forcefully on an increasing number of abortion clinic bombings, informed Edwards that it has asked the FBI to investigate the case.

“You can be assured that if the evidence shows that there was a violation of federal criminal civil rights statutes, appropriate action will be taken,” Assistant Atty. Gen. William Bradford Reynolds told Edwards in a letter.

The Justice Department acted after it received a letter from Edwards about the case last week.

Off-Duty Policeman

It involves a woman, accompanying a friend to a New York abortion clinic, who charged that she was assaulted by an off-duty police officer participating in anti-abortion picketing.

The woman suffered a head injury when she was thrown against a wall by the officer. She was later arrested by the same officer after she ran into the clinic and called police.

The woman was jailed and charged with harassment and resisting arrest.

Edwards disclosed the department’s action in the case at the House Judiciary subcommittee hearing, the latest in a series of hearings into how the federal government is dealing with the increasing attacks on abortion clinics in the last two years.

Administration Criticized

The Administration has come under criticism by civil rights groups and some members of Congress for failing to consider attacks and harassment of the clinics as violations of federal civil rights law.

Currently, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has been investigating the cases based on firearms violations.