Abortion protesters on both sides pack the halls outside the Minnesota Senate chamber on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023, at the State Capitol in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Steve Karnowski)

Editor’s note: This story contains mentions of suicide.

The anti-abortion organization Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL) lost in court last week and failed to collect $842,000 from a man who gifted the money to them a day before he died by suicide.

Last February, 81-year-old John Charais donated $842,000 to the MCCL the day before he killed himself. Following his father’s death, Charais’ son Nick stopped the payment from going through and alleged to the Minnesota Star Tribune that the MCCL knew his father was about to commit suicide when he agreed to send the money.

“He told them he was going to commit suicide. They knew. That’s another reason I’m pissed,” Nick Charais told the Star Tribune’s Paul Walsh.

After Charais stopped his father’s entire estate from being donated, the MCCL sued Nick in Beltrami County District court to recover the money. The organization argued that John Charais delivering a check was in of itself a contract.

“Basically, they’re trying to strong-arm me because they didn’t think I’d fight them back,” Charais said after being hit with the lawsuit. “My dad wasn’t right.”

The MCCL’s case was dismissed by Beltrami County District Court Judge John G. Melbye, who ruled that Nick Charais did not breach a contract like the anti-abortion group was claiming. The court documents also revealed that prior to sending the money, John Charais met with several MCCL officials including the organization’s executive director, Scott Fischbach. Fischbach’s wife Michelle is a U.S. representative for Minnesota’s Seventh  District and the co-chair of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus. Michelle Fischbach’s Congressional office did not immediately respond to comment on her husband’s alleged involvement.

According to ProPublica, the $842,000 the MCCL tried to obtain would have been close to if not more money than the organization receives in total donations yearly.

If you or someone you care about is in crisis and needs help, call 988 to speak immediately to a trained listener. Visit 988lifeline.org for crisis chat services and more resources.