Wisconsin Man Charged with FACE Act Violations

WASHINGTON – The Justice Department announced today that Ralph Lang, 63, Marshfield, Wis., was charged today in a complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Madison, Wis., with attempting to injure, intimidate and interfere with other persons because those persons were providing reproductive health services.

As set out in the complaint, Lang traveled from Marshfield to Madison on May 25, 2011. While loading his handgun, he discharged a bullet through the door of his hotel room into the room across the hall. Madison Police responded and Lang was arrested for reckless endangerment. In statements to police, he admitted that he had traveled to Madison to kill individuals performing abortions. Lang will have his initial appearance in U.S. District Court on Friday, May 27, 2011.

Today’s charge is a result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Madison Police Department. Prosecution of this case is being handled by U.S. Attorney John W. Vaudreuil and Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman, in conjunction with the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.