Minnesota couple and daughter hit with federal charges for allegedly assaulting Turning Point USA reporter
A Minnesota couple — including a dad who fancied himself “the voice of a generation” — and their daughter were hit with federal charges for allegedly assaulting a Turning Point USA reporter at an anti-ICE protest earlier this month.
Christopher Ostroushko, 51, Deyanna Ostroushko, 46, and daughter Paige Ostroushko, 20, were indicted for the assault of TPUSA reporter Savanah Hernandez outside the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in Fort Snelling, the US Department of Justice announced Wednesday.
Horrifying video from the April 11 anti-ICE rally outside the Whipple building captured Christopher Ostroushko suddenly shoving Hernandez, 29, to the ground with both hands, while yelling, “Don’t f–king touch my daughter!”
The enraged dad’s assault came after a female protester was seen punching Hernandez in the face, knocking her clean off her feet and into a fence behind her, and before another woman tackled her to the pavement once again, according to the footage.
Hernandez previously told The Post that she was tasked with filming protest activity — and did so untouched until she was identified by “a mob” of “left-wingers” for her work with the organization co-founded by assassinated conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
“Hernandez was allegedly surrounded, physically assaulted, and shoved to the ground — simply because she was identified by the defendants as a conservative journalist,” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement.
“That is NOT ‘peaceful protest.’ These deplorable actions, as charged in the indictment, will not be tolerated in America, and this Department of Justice will always punish unhinged acts of political violence,” Blanche added.
Christopher and Paige Ostroushko were federally charged with interference with a federally protected activity and assault, and Deyanna Ostroushko was charged with only assault, according to the federal grand jury indictment.
The attack left the conservative journalist with neck pain, a sprained knee, and numerous bruises from the incident, she claimed.
The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office also announced on Wednesday that Christopher Ostroushko has been charged with fifth-degree assault for his actions outside the Whipple Building.
Though the initial clash on April 11 led to four arrests, county prosecutors declined to charge the three other individuals who were initially cuffed due to “insufficient evidence.”
“This is the second fifth-degree assault charge stemming from confrontations at Fort Snelling since December,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said in a statement.
“We are committed to protecting the right to protest across the entire county, including at Whipple, but violent conduct is unacceptable,” Moriarty added.
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the indictment on X, writing that the bureau “immediately engaged and led the investigation” into videos of Hernandez’s assault.
“Above all, we are thankful @Savsays is ok,” Patel said. “Let this be a message to others who may try something similar – this FBI will find you.”
Christopher Ostroushko, who was catapulted to fame by his enraged man-on-the-street interview with Status Coup in January, has claimed his family has been the subject of “nonstop” backlash.
He also defended his wife and daughter in a podcast appearance with Brian Shapiro in his first interview since the viral incident — insisting his family is “absolutely not violent.”
“We are absolutely not violent people. In fact, we tend to shy away from it,” Ostroushko told Shapiro.
Paige Ostroushko has also claimed that the tussle was sparked when Hernandez allegedly laughed about sexual assaults in ICE detention centers, according to the Star Tribune.
“This led to emotional distress and a confrontation,” Ostroushko wrote in a GoFundMe statement. “The situation escalated, and at one point, I experienced physical contact and believed I was being assaulted, including being struck several times. In response, I acted in what I believed was self-defense in the moment.”
All three family members were charged by a summons and are scheduled to appear in court on May 12, the Star Tribune reported.
After Wednesday’s indictment, Hernandez wrote on X that she is “incredibly grateful” for the work of the DOJ and FBI in the investigation.
“Thank you to the DOJ and FBI for doing everything they can to ensure that justice is fully served in this case,” Hernandez said. “I am incredibly grateful to see our justice system at work.”
SOURCE: NYPOST
