Catholic Congressman calls for justice in ‘D.C. Five’ abortion deaths

Rep. Riley Moore, R-W.Va., called on Attorney General Pam Bondi to launch a full investigation into the deaths of the “D.C. Five,” the five deceased babies recovered from a Washington, D.C., abortion clinic in 2022, whose brutal deaths shocked the nation and raised serious allegations of infanticide.

Remains of the five aborted babies were recovered in 2022 from a D.C. facility operated by notorious late-term abortionist Cesare Santangelo. The babies’ remains sparked widespread outrage among pro-lifers, with many suggesting the babies may have been illegally killed in violation of the Partial-Birth Abortion Act and the Born-Alive Infant Protection Act.

During a June 23 hearing, Moore, a Catholic, accused the Biden administration’s Department of Justice (DOJ) of actively suppressing the case by ordering the destruction of the babies’ remains without proper autopsies. 

“Public reporting suggests that President Biden’s DOJ directed the DC chief medical examiner to destroy the remains of the children without performing an autopsy, which the CME appears not to have done yet,” Moore said. 

“General Bondi,” he continued, “will you commit to working with me and this committee to conduct a full and fair investigation into the deaths of these children to ensure justice is served for the D.C. five?”

Bondi confirmed the matter remains an “ongoing investigation,” adding she “cannot discuss that in this forum.”

She did note, however, that President Donald Trump in January pardoned over a dozen pro-life activists who were aggressively prosecuted by the Biden administration’s Department of Justice.

Instead of investigating the clinic responsible for the deaths of the D.C. five, Biden’s DOJ chose to prosecute pro-life activists, sentencing some to up to 11 years in prison under the controversial Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act. 

CatholicVote, along with nine other pro-life organizations, sent a May 27 letter to US Attorney Jeanine Pirro urging a full criminal investigation into the suspected infanticide.

“Of all the great things President Trump has done since being re-elected, freeing the pro-lifers who were wrongfully persecuted and challenged is at the top,” CatholicVote Director of Government Affairs Tom McClusky said at the time.

“What happened in DC was atrocious; a group of pro-lifers exposed the illegal activities of a DC abortion facility, and the DC government instead protected the criminals and attacked the pro-lifers,” he added. “It is well past time that the abortion facility is investigated for its crimes and that they are brought to justice.”

The renewed demands for accountability echo earlier calls by Reps. Chip Roy, R-Texas, and Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., who previously urged the FBI to investigate the deaths.

The call for justice comes just one day before the June 24 anniversary marking the repeal of Roe v. Wade, adding renewed urgency to the pro-life movement’s demands.