Minnesota Couple And Daughter Hit With Federal Charges For Allegedly Assaulting Turning Point USA Reporter
A Minnesota family of three has been hit with federal charges after allegedly assaulting a reporter affiliated with Turning Point USA during an anti-ICE protest earlier this month.
According to the Department of Justice, Christopher Ostroushko, 51, Deyanna Ostroushko, 46, and their daughter Paige Ostroushko, 20, were indicted in connection with the attack on reporter Savanah Hernandez outside the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in Fort Snelling, Minnesota.
Video from the April 11 protest shows a chaotic scene in which Hernandez was confronted by multiple individuals. Prosecutors allege that Christopher Ostroushko shoved Hernandez to the ground while shouting at her, moments after another protester struck her in the face.
The footage also appears to show Hernandez being knocked backward into a fence and later tackled again during the confrontation, which unfolded as tensions escalated among demonstrators gathered outside the federal facility.
BREAKING UPDATE: A grand jury has indicted two anti-ICE protestors who violently assaulted @Savsays while she was reporting outside an ICE facility in Minneapolis.pic.twitter.com/r70cJzNgYM
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) April 29, 2026
Hernandez has said she was covering the protest when she was identified by a group in the crowd because of her affiliation with the conservative organization. She described being surrounded and targeted while attempting to document the event.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche condemned the incident, stating that the alleged assault crossed the line from protest into criminal behavior. He emphasized that violence against journalists based on their political views would not be tolerated.
Federal prosecutors charged Christopher and Paige Ostroushko with interference with a federally protected activity and assault. Deyanna Ostroushko faces a charge of assault, according to the indictment.
Hernandez reported suffering neck pain, a sprained knee, and multiple bruises following the incident. The confrontation led to several arrests at the scene, though local prosecutors initially declined to charge some individuals due to insufficient evidence.
Separately, Hennepin County authorities filed a fifth-degree assault charge against Christopher Ostroushko related to the same incident. County officials reiterated that while protest activity is protected, violence is not.
Kash Patel confirmed that the FBI led the investigation after reviewing footage of the assault, stating that federal authorities moved quickly to identify those involved.
Members of the Ostroushko family have pushed back on the allegations. Christopher Ostroushko said in a podcast interview that his family is not violent, while Paige Ostroushko claimed the altercation escalated after a verbal exchange and that she believed she was acting in self-defense.
The three defendants have been summoned to appear in court on May 12 as the case moves forward. Meanwhile, Hernandez expressed gratitude to federal investigators, saying she appreciated the efforts to pursue accountability in the case.