DOJ Civil Rights Chief Says Federal Charges May Be Explored After Violent Assault on TPUSA Reporter in Minneapolis

United States Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon said the Department of Justice will explore the possibility of federal charges after a TPUSA Frontlines reporter was violently assaulted outside an immigration enforcement facility in Minneapolis. The attack on reporter Savanah Hernandez occurred on Saturday during a protest at the Whipple ICE Facility, and video of the incident has circulated widely on social media.

Hernandez, who was on assignment covering the demonstration described by organizers as “National F*ck ICE Day,” posted video and commentary following the attack. In a tweet included with footage, she wrote: “I’m waking up with a headache and stiff neck this morning due to how violently anti-ICE activist, Chris Ostroushko, shoved me down yesterday.

A second angle shows that he had to be held back by 5 men as he continued to charge at me.

I didn’t speak a word to him all day yet he…” The footage shows multiple people surrounding Hernandez, with protesters blowing whistles, waving objects and striking her, then knocking her to the ground.

Dhillon discussed the matter during an interview on Newsmax with host Carl Higbie. In the exchange, Higbie said: "Carl Higbie: United States Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, Harmeet Dhillon. Great to have you back on, ma’am. This is incredible that we’re actually having to have this conversation." Dhillon replied at length, saying in part: "AAG Dhillon: Yeah, I mean, it’s all too familiar for me. I’ve been fighting for journalists under this kind of attack for, you know, close to a decade now, representing journalist Andy Ngo several years ago in an Antifa attack in Portland, Oregon. And since then, we’ve seen countless incidents like this.

And, you know, very concerning what happened to this young lady, this reporter, and I’ve been in touch with her team. And, you know, we have an open investigation, so I can’t get into any details.

But my office is actively involved in investigating what happened and seeing whether there are federal charges that can be brought.

Of course, FBI and potentially Homeland Security investigators also do their legwork and investigation. We analyze the legal claims. And so we’re going to gather all the evidence. But one of the individuals seen there in that mob is somebody who I’ve already had indicted for the attack on Cities Church in St. Paul, that’s William Kelly.

He’s out on bond. And, you know, this judge has refused to keep him in custody, although we believe he’s a dangerous person who’s done this type of attack in other cities, including here in the District of Columbia, allegedly.

So, you know, there’s only so much the Department of Justice can do when judges refuse to keep communities safe."

Dhillon also posted on social media about the incident, tweeting: "Attacks on journalists for simply doing their jobs are illegal and un-American. @TheJusticeDept ’s @CivilRights will protect the fundamental right to freedom of expression—and will explore the possibility of federal charges. pic.twitter.com/XxL4A8be3X" Her office said it is conducting an open investigation and coordinating with other federal agencies as appropriate.

Local reporting and video identify several people allegedly involved in the assault. The account published by The Gateway Pundit named Chris Ostroushko, described as a self-proclaimed “Minnesota Angry Man,” along with his wife DeYanna and their daughter Paige Ostroushko, who is noted as a University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point soccer player. The posted footage depicts the group swarming Hernandez, blowing whistles in her ears, holding items in front of her face and engaging in physical contact that resulted in Hernandez being slammed to the concrete.

According to the account, Paige Ostroushko was briefly detained and later released. The report also states that 20-year-old Lorenzo Amadeo Garcia of St. Cloud, identified as Paige’s boyfriend, was arrested on probable cause for obstructing police. The article also notes that one individual seen at the scene, William Kelly, is already the subject of an indictment related to a separate attack on Cities Church in St. Paul and is currently out on bond.

The incident has prompted renewed attention to attacks on journalists covering protests and to how federal and local authorities respond. With the Civil Rights Division involved, the DOJ will review the available evidence and determine whether federal charges—potentially tied to civil rights violations or other federal statutes—are warranted. The course and outcome of the federal inquiry remain subject to the investigation and any subsequent prosecutorial decisions.