Republican House lawmakers are demanding answers from the U.S. Marshals Service and the Bureau of Prisons regarding reports that two anti-abortion elderly women in their custody were not provided with “medically necessary health care services.”
“We are deeply concerned by reports suggesting that the U.S. Marshal Service did not provide medically necessary health care services to two prisoners in its custody: Ms. Jean Marshall, 74, and Heather Idoni, 59,” House Pro-Life Caucus Co-Chairmen Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Andy Harris (R-MD) wrote to USMS Director Ronald Davis and BOP Director Colette Peters.
“We ask Director Davis to provide a clear and comprehensive account of the care provided to Ms. Idoni and Ms. Marshall during their time in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service,” the letter continued, also calling on Peters to “advise us on what actions the Bureau of Prisons has taken to ensure Ms. Marshall is receiving appropriate care.”
“We also ask for information on actions the Bureau of Prisons plans to take to provide appropriate care for Ms. Idoni if she is placed in Bureau of Prison custody,” the letter added, which was also signed by Judiciary subcommittee Reps. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Chip Roy (R-TX), Harriet Hageman (R-WY), Claudia Tenney (R-NY), and Debbie Lesko (R-AZ).
Marshall and Idoni were both convicted of violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act for blockading access to an abortion clinic in Northwest Washington, D.C., in October 2020. Since August 2023, Idoni has been in the custody of the USMS, according to the lawmakers, and Marshall has been in custody since September 2023.
Marshall was sentenced to 15 additional months in prison on May 25, and Idoni is scheduled to be sentenced next week. Idoni will also be sentenced on July 30 for convictions of conspiracy and FACE Act convictions in an unrelated clinic blockade from Tennessee, according to the Justice Department.
The Republicans’ letter details a report that Idoni suffered a stroke about two weeks ago and had three stents placed above her heart. She was allegedly told to take daily doses of heart medicine, but at the time of publication on Monday, she said she had not been given a single dose.
Idoni reportedly raised her concerns with prison officials, but she said a nurse told her after six days that jail records indicated that she received her daily dose. Idoni is concerned that her medical records are being falsified and told a reporter that “she was frightened that she might die.”
Idoni is said to also suffer from diabetes, and she has said the jail has not offered her diabetes medication, leaving her without any prescription.
Marshall, on the other hand, was allegedly denied hip surgery despite struggling with the ability to walk and two emergency room visits since the time of her incarceration. Marshall said she was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in both hips and was scheduled for surgery in October 2023 but was not allowed to keep that date.
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The lawmakers gave Davis and Peters until Friday to respond.
The Washington Examiner reached out to the USMS and BOP for comment.
