TPUSA reporter Savanah Hernandez attack: Family of 3 facing charges

Three federally charged for assaulting TPUSA reporter

Three people have been federal charged for allegedly assault a Turning Point USA reporter outside the Whipple Building. FOX 9's Mike Manzoni has the latest. 

FORT SNELLING, Minn. (FOX 9) - Three people have been indicted on federal charges for the assault of Turning Point USA reporter Savanah Hernandez at the Whipple Building at Fort Snelling earlier this month during an anti-ICE protest, Fox News reports.

Federal indictment in Savanah Hernandez attack

What we know:

A federal grand jury has handed up an indictment against Chris, DeYanna and Paige Ostroushko. Chris Ostroushko and Paige Ostroushko both face a count of interference with a federally protected activity. All three face a count of assault.

The indictment alleges the attack violates federal law because it occurred on federal property.

What's next:

The family is now scheduled to appear in federal court in Minneapolis on May 12.

Local perspective:

After the attack, the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office said it had identified three people that would face charges for the assault. On Wednesday, the Hennepin County Attorney's Office announced it had also filed a fifth-degree assault charge against Chris Ostroushko for the Whipple attack.

In a statement, a Hennepin County Attorney's Office spokesperson said it had reviewed charges against three other individuals but said there was "insufficient evidence" to bring charges.

The other side:

The Ostroushkos appeared last week for an interview on conservative news outlet OANN. In the interview, Chris claimed he was trying to defend his wife and daughter.

"We are absolutely not violent people. In fact, we tend to shy away from it," Chris Ostroushko.

DeYanna claimed that Hernandez struck Paige during the altercation.  "So after that happened, she started to move out of that area… Paige was moving out with her, and she had punched Paige again, so that was a second assault, and then Paige pushed her to defend herself, and then I yelled at Paige and I said, ‘Paige, get back here.’ And she said, ‘Mom, she punched me.’ And that’s when I said, ‘Don’t effing touch my daughter,’ and that’s when she grabbed me by the throat," DeYanna said.

Hernandez responded to the interview by saying there was plenty of video of what happened that day, and she said none of it shows her as the aggressor.

‘Unhinged acts of political violence'

What they're saying:

In a tweet, Hernandez says: "HUGE UPDATE: Turns out that Chris, Paige and Deyanna Ostroushko will ALL be facing federal charges for assaulting me. It was initially reported that only 2 of the 3 would be facing charges, however, Acting AG Todd Blanche, has just announced that ALL THREE were indicted and will be facing charges. Thank you to the DOJ and FBI for doing everything they can to ensure that justice is fully served in this case. I am incredibly grateful to see our justice system at work."

In a statement, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche wrote: "Today, Christopher, Deyanna, and Paige Ostrouchko were indicted by a grand jury for allegedly assaulting journalist and Turning Point USA contributor Savannah Hernandez, while she was lawfully reporting on anti-ICE protests outside a federal building in St. Paul. Hernandez was allegedly surrounded, physically assaulted, and shoved to the ground — simply because she was identified by the defendants as a conservative journalist. 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."

The backstory:

The Whipple Building is a federal facility that houses the regional ICE field office for Minnesota. Since the federal surge in December and January, the Whipple Building has been a regular spot for protests.

Hernandez was at the Whipple Building to cover the protest for Turning Point USA, a conservative advocacy group founded by Charlie Kirk.

At first, videos show protesters just yelling, making noise, and blowing whistles at Hernandez. But then the altercation turns physical, with one woman throwing punches. Hernandez is knocked to the ground by the woman.

Some members of the crowd try to de-escalate the situation. But then a man comes up from behind Hernandez and again shoves her from behind to the ground. After Hernandez gets back up, there is another scuffle, and she is again tackled to the pavement. Eventually, good Samaritans in the crowd were able to calm tensions and get Hernandez to safety.