Lawmakers call on DOJ to probe deaths of five preborn infants

More than 55 U.S. senators and representatives this week sent a letter to the Justice Department, urging a thorough investigation into the deaths of five pre-born infants whose remains are held by the D.C. medical examiner. The Washington, D.C. police department in 2022 found the bodies of the late-term babies in the apartment of a pro-life activist. Lauren Handy has said she obtained them from a medical waste box from the infamous Washington Surgi-Clinic abortion facility. Handay wanted to determine whether the babies had been killed illegally, after birth, or by partial-birth abortion.

At least one doctor believes the infants were killed using such illegal methods, according to the lawmakers’ letter. Lawmakers called on the Biden administration six times to investigate the infants’ deaths, according to the letter. However, the investigation was never carried out.

The Justice Department in 2024 directed the disposal of their remains before reversing course due to backlash from members of Congress. Former U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said last year that the Justice Department was investigating the circumstances of the infants’ deaths. But lawmakers wrote this week that they hadn’t heard updates on that probe.

The letter was spearheaded by Sen. Mike Lee and Congressman Chris Smith. The other signers of the letter, all Republicans, included Sens. Chuck Grassley, Ted Cruz, Tom Cotton, and Josh Hawley.

Dig deeper: Read Leah Savas’ report on the circumstances surrounding the discovery of the babies’ bodies.