Federal prosecutors have indicted three members of a Minnesota family for allegedly attacking a conservative media contributor during an anti-immigration enforcement demonstration, court documents revealed Wednesday.
Christopher Ostroushko, his wife DeYanna, and their daughter Paige each face federal assault charges following an April 11 incident involving Turning Point USA writer Savanah Hernandez. Federal prosecutors also charged Christopher and Paige with interfering with federally protected activities.
Additionally, Christopher Ostroushko is facing separate state-level misdemeanor assault charges through the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.
Defense lawyers for the family stated they plan to vigorously fight the charges, noting that an indictment does not constitute a conviction.
The confrontation occurred during ongoing demonstrations against the Trump administration’s immigration policies near the Twin Cities. Protesters have regularly gathered outside the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building at Fort Snelling, where Immigration and Customs Enforcement operates a temporary detention facility.
Video evidence recorded by Hernandez on April 11 shows the incident escalating when Paige approached the journalist and blew a whistle directly at her face. Additional footage from different angles captures Hernandez attempting to shield herself and pushing back as the situation intensified.
During the altercation, Hernandez can be heard saying, “Get away from me.”
The video shows Paige shoving Hernandez, causing her to fall backward into a fence.
Subsequently, both parents confronted Hernandez separately, with Paige engaging again in the conflict.
According to the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, Christopher Ostroushko “forcefully shoved the victim in the back, head first to the ground.” Prosecutors determined there was not enough evidence to pursue state charges against the other family members.
Bystanders at the scene attempted to calm the situation and separate those involved.
Following the April incident, Hernandez reported on social media that her eyeglasses were damaged, she sustained a concussion along with neck and back pain, and suffered leg abrasions. She indicated she was working with law enforcement to file charges.
Family attorney James Cook argued that circulated videos don’t capture the complete story and expressed confidence in mounting a strong defense.
“We think that there’s a lot of things in the videos that provide a means to exonerate,” he stated.
Cook explained that the Ostroushkos were frequent demonstrators at the federal building, participating to “provide a voice and a demonstration against Metro Surge.” He noted the family has faced online harassment since the incident, and both parents have lost their employment.
“They wish they could turn back the clock,” Cook said. “They wish that things didn’t turn out how they did.”
The family is scheduled to appear before a federal judge on May 12.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche released a statement Wednesday declaring that the Justice Department will consistently “punish unhinged acts of political violence.”
“Hernandez was allegedly surrounded, physically assaulted, and shoved to the ground — simply because she was identified by the defendants as a conservative journalist,” Blanche said. “That is NOT ‘peaceful protest.’”
In response to the charges, Hernandez posted that she was “incredibly grateful to see our justice system at work.” She did not respond to requests for additional comment.
