A Minnesota couple — together with a dad who fancied himself “the voice of a era” — and their daughter have been hit with federal expenses for allegedly assaulting a Turning Level USA reporter at an anti-ICE protest earlier this month.
Christopher Ostroushko, 51; Deyanna Ostroushko, 46; and daughter Paige Ostroushko, 20, have been indicted for the assault of TPUSA reporter Savanah Hernandez exterior of the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Constructing in Fort Snelling, the US Division of Justice introduced on Wednesday.
Horrifying video from the April 11 anti-ICE rally exterior the Whipple constructing captured Christopher Ostroushko all of the sudden shoving Hernandez, 29, with each palms to the bottom, whereas yelling, “Don’t f–king contact my daughter!”
The enraged dad’s assault got here after a feminine protester was seen punching Hernandez within the face, knocking her clear off her ft and right into a fence behind her, and earlier than one other lady tackled her to the pavement as soon as once more, in response to the footage.
Hernandez beforehand instructed The Submit that she was tasked with filming protest exercise — and did so untouched till she was recognized by “a mob” of “left-wingers” for her work with the group co-founded by assassinated conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
“Hernandez was allegedly surrounded, bodily assaulted, and shoved to the bottom — just because she was recognized by the defendants as a conservative journalist,” Performing Legal professional Normal Todd Blanche stated in a press release.
“That’s NOT ‘peaceable protest.’ These deplorable actions, as charged within the indictment, is not going to be tolerated in America, and this Division of Justice will all the time punish unhinged acts of political violence,” Blanche added.
Christopher and Paige Ostroushko have been federally charged with interference with a federally protected exercise and assault, and Deyanna Ostroushko was charged with solely assault, in response to the federal grand jury indictment.
The assault left the conservative journalist with neck ache, a sprained knee, and quite a few bruises from the incident, she claimed.
The Hennepin County Legal professional’s Workplace additionally introduced on Wednesday that Christopher Ostroushko has been charged with fifth-degree assault for his actions exterior the Whipple Constructing.
Although the preliminary conflict on April 11 led to 4 arrests, county prosecutors declined to cost the three different people who have been initially cuffed because of “inadequate proof.”
“That is the second fifth-degree assault cost stemming from confrontations at Fort Snelling since December,” Hennepin County Legal professional Mary Moriarty stated in a press release.
“We’re dedicated to defending the proper to protest throughout your complete county, together with at Whipple, however violent conduct is unacceptable,” Moriarty added.
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the indictment on X, writing that the FBI “instantly engaged and led the investigation” into movies of Hernandez’s assault.
“Above all, we’re grateful @Savsays is okay,” Patel stated. “Let this be a message to others who could strive one thing comparable – this FBI will discover you.”
Christopher Ostroushko, who was catapulted into fame by his enraged man-on-the-street interview with Standing Coup in January, has claimed his household has been the topic of “nonstop” backlash.
He additionally defended his spouse and daughter in a podcast look with Brian Shapiro in his first interview for the reason that viral incident — insisting his household is “completely not violent.”
“We’re completely not violent folks. In truth, we are inclined to shrink back from it,” Ostroushko instructed Shapiro.
Paige Ostroushko has additionally claimed that the tussle was sparked when Hernandez allegedly laughed about sexual assaults in ICE detention facilities, in response to the Star Tribune.
“This led to emotional misery and a confrontation,” Ostroushko wrote in a GoFundMe assertion. “The scenario escalated, and at one level, I skilled bodily contact and believed I used to be being assaulted, together with being struck a number of occasions. In response, I acted in what I believed was self-defense within the second.”
All three relations have been charged by a summons and are scheduled to look in courtroom on Could 12, the Star Tribune reported.
After Wednesday’s indictment, Hernandez wrote on X that she is “extremely grateful” for the work of the DOJ and FBI within the investigation.
“Thanks to the DOJ and FBI for doing every thing they’ll to make sure that justice is absolutely served on this case,” Hernandez stated. “I’m extremely grateful to see our justice system at work.”
