FBI offering $25,000 for information in the Wisconsin Family Action office arson investigation

Corrinne Hess, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
·2 min read
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A threat is spray painted on the building wall near Wisconsin Family Action's offices in Madison.
A threat is spray painted on the building wall near Wisconsin Family Action's offices in Madison.

The FBI Milwaukee Field Office is offering up to $25,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the suspect or suspects responsible for the fire of a prominent anti-abortion office in May.

A row of books from the director's office of Wisconsin Family Action was set on fire about 6 a.m. May 8. The fire, at 2801 International Lane in Madison, was quickly extinguished and there were no injuries.

"If abortions aren't safe then you aren't either" was scrawled in black paint across the outside wall of Wisconsin Family Action's offices in Madison one week after a leaked draft of U.S. Supreme Court decision showing a majority of justices planned to vote to overturn the court's landmark 1973 ruling that legalized abortion.

Roe vs. Wade was overturned June 24, 2022.

An investigation found two Molotov cocktails were thrown into the office. An exterior search of the office building revealed graffiti written on the exterior of the building near a broken window. Additional graffiti was written adjacent to the first that included the anarchist "A" and the numbers "1312."

Wisconsin Family Action, a Christian-based organization that opposes abortion, same-sex marriage, and vaccine mandates, is an influential lobbying group in Wisconsin that also spends money to elect their preferred candidates.

The group has for years pushed Wisconsin and federal lawmakers to outlaw abortions.

More:Audio of 911 call released in arson at Madison office of anti-abortion group Wisconsin Family Action

This case is being investigated by the Madison Police Department; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the FBI.

People with information are asked to contact the FBI's Milwaukee Field Office at (414) 276-4684, or to submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: FBI offering reward for tips in the Wisconsin Family Action arson