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Michigan Congressman blames "pro-abortion domestic terrorism" after Right to Life building vandalized in Jackson

A Michigan Congressman is calling an act of vandalism in his district pro-abortion “domestic terrorism", but that’s not what local law enforcement is calling it.

Representative Tim Walberg tweeted pictures of broken glass and spray-painted messages at a Right to Life building near his campaign office in Jackson.

The seven term Republican was quick to blame left-wing extremists for the vandalism. But representatives for the city’s police department say they have no surveillance footage of the incident, and have not identified any suspects.

Police are looking into the vandalism as malicious destruction of property, and have not contacted state or federal law enforcement to assist.

GOP leadership is calling on the Justice Department to investigate vandalism and arson across the country that target so-called pregnancy centers that work to stop people from having abortions. Republicans blame an alleged group called “Jane’s Revenge” for the acts, though the group’s existence is disputed.

Attorney General Dana Nessel, Michigan’s top law enforcement official, says her office was not contacted by Walberg, but that her office’s Hate Crimes & Domestic Terrorism Unit could look into the matter, if it was asked to.

“Obviously, I condemn any acts of violence and any acts of vandalism of any sort," Nessel said.

The Jackson Police Department has not identified any suspects in connection to the vandalism… and have not referred to the case as an act of terrorism.

A spokesperson for the Jackson Police Department says the Capitol police have asked for a copy of the local police report, but is otherwise not involved.

Eli Newman is assistant news director and editor. He works with the WKAR news and digital content teams to facilitate the creation of meaningful and thought-provoking multimedia news content for WKAR Public Media.