Minnesota Trio Faces Federal Charges After Allegedly Shoving TPUSA Reporter at Anti-ICE Protest

Three members of a family have been indicted for allegedly assaulting a conservative reporter during an anti-ICE protest in St. Paul, Minnesota. The protest took place on April 11 outside the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in Fort Snelling.

Savanah Hernandez, a Turning Point USA (TPUSA) reporter, was covering the demonstrations when she was allegedly attacked by Christopher Ostroushko, 51; his wife, Deyanna Ostroushko, 46; and their daughter, Paige Ostroushko, 20. For those unaware, TPUSA is a conservative nonprofit organization founded by the late Charlie Kirk.

Video of the assault was captured on camera as Christopher was seen shoving Hernandez to the ground from behind. At another point during the protest, Paige was accused of punching the reporter and pushing her. Hernandez said she suffered a sprained knee, multiple bruises, and neck pain during the attack while she was just trying to do her job.

The reporter shared a video of the assault on social media and wrote, “This is now the second time I have been mobbed and assaulted for filming a protest on U.S. streets. Today these Minneapolis protesters were chanting that they were “ANTIFA” and proved it, by mobbing and beating me for reporting on a public protest.”

On April 29, the Department of Justice announced the indictment of the Ostroushkos. All three have been charged with misdemeanor assault. Christopher and Paige are also facing a felony charge of interfering with a federally protected activity. The family is set to appear before a court on May 12.

The Ostroushkos maintain their innocence, and Paige has even started a GoFundMe campaign, stating that the altercation with Hernandez started after the reporter made fun of s—-- assault incidents at ICE detention centers.

“This led to emotional distress and a confrontation. 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,” Paige wrote on the campaign page.

On the other hand, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has stated that violence against journalists would not be tolerated. “Hernandez was allegedly surrounded, physically assaulted, and shoved to the ground — simply because she was identified by the defendants as a conservative journalist,” he said in an official 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.

Apart from the federal charges, Christopher is facing a fifth-degree misdemeanor assault charge in Hennepin County for the same alleged crime. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) have also participated in the investigation along with the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office.

After FBI director Kash Patel announced the Ostroushkos’ indictment on social media, Hernandez thanked him for the investigation and wrote, “Thank you Kash!! Very appreciative to this FBI for handling this so quickly and effectively.”