TPUSA reporter Savanah Hernandez reacts to indictments over attacks at protest

The Turning Point USA reporter who was attacked during an anti-ICE protest in Minneapolis is speaking out after a federal grand jury issued indictments Tuesday against three people connected to the attack. The individuals charged were identified by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche as Christopher Ostroushko, DeYanna Ostroushko and Paige Ostroushko.

“[Savanah] Hernandez was allegedly surrounded, physically assaulted, and pushed to the ground simply because he was identified by the defendants as a conservative journalist. This is NOT a ‘peaceful protest’. “These deplorable acts charged in this indictment will not be tolerated in America, and this Department of Justice will always punish unreasonable acts of political violence.” wrote on Blanche X.

Frontlines TPUSA reporter Savanah Hernandez told Fox News Digital on Wednesday that she was “grateful” to see charges filed against her alleged attackers.

“I’m very grateful that the federal government is really paying attention to attacks on journalists,” he said. “For years, my friends and I have been attacked for doing our jobs. So it’s incredible to see the Department of Justice and the FBI taking this seriously and using the full force of the government and the justice system to help Americans like me.”

TPUSA REPORTER ATTACKED AT ICE PROTEST WARNES THAT A DARK NEW LINE HAS BEEN CROSSED IN AMERICA’S POLITICAL WARS

Hernandez also expressed his gratitude to the grand jury, saying, “I’m grateful that the grand jury was able to follow the evidence presented and come to this conclusion. Again, this is not a left-right thing, and this wasn’t the Trump Justice Department politically persecuting people, this was a grand jury coming to this decision based on the evidence put forward.”

The Hennepin County District Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday that it has charged Christopher Ostroushko, 51, with one count of fifth-degree assault. News of the accusations emerged while Hernandez was speaking to Fox News Digital. In response, he said he was “grateful that they were at least willing to press charges against Chris.”

When the incident occurred, Hernandez was covering an anti-ICE protest on April 11 outside the Whipple Federal Building, which is an ICE field office and also serves as a detention facility. Hernandez previously told Fox News Digital that he did not interact with protesters and stood to the side and filmed the demonstration. He said things escalated further when protesters realized he was working for TPUSA, an organization founded by the late Charlie Kirk.

Video of the incident shows a large crowd surrounding Hernandez and several people yelling at him at the same time. The TPUSA reporter previously told Fox News Digital that protesters honked their horns in his face and shouted obscenities at him. She also claimed that local activist Christopher Ostroushko pushed her from behind and screamed into her daughter Paige Ostroushko’s ear when she whistled in his ear.

Frontlines TPUSA reporter Savanah Hernandez speaks with Fox News Digital after a grand jury indicted three men in connection with an attack on her during an anti-ICE protest. (Fox News Digital)

MINNESOTAN FATHER WHO PUSHED CONSERVATIVE REPORTER AT AN ICE-FIGHT PROTEST SAYS FAMILY ‘DEFINITELY WERE NOT VIOLENT’

In the video, Hernandez is heard saying he tried to leave and later said activists forced him back inside despite his efforts to escape the situation. After four or five attacks, a deputy stepped in and escorted him to a police vehicle, he said. Suffered some injuries Frontlines TPUSA He later said he suffered a concussion, two sprains and multiple bruises.

“I was brutally attacked by multiple individuals outside the Whipple ICE facility in Minneapolis,” said Hernandez. wrote to x On April 11. “Several people attacked me and a grown man pushed me to the ground. My glasses were broken. ANTIFA is still alive and well.”

Liberal broadcaster Andrew Mercado condemned the attack in a post on X, saying it “shouldn’t have happened.”

“Savannah [sic] “He was filming, not interacting with anyone, and it escalated into a physical confrontation, which ultimately gave law enforcement the opportunity to intervene and declare an unlawful assembly and stop the entire protest.” Mercado wrote.

On April 15, Hernandez wrote to X that he was canceling multiple interviews, saying he felt “exhausted” after previous interviews and wanted to give himself “time to heal.” Hernandez said he was dealing with headaches, lightheadedness and dizziness, and the doctor confirmed he had a concussion.

THE MINNESOTA MAN WHO PUSHED A CONSERVATIVE REPORTER SAID HE SECOND GUESSED HE LIVED IN THE USA AFTER THE REACTIONS

Christopher Ostroushko said in an interview on April 15.Pushing the BoundariesHe said he and his family are “definitely not violent people” and “tend to stay away from that.” In the same interview, he denied being at the forefront of the protest and said he was “staying in the background and watching what was going on.”

Hernandez denied the Ostroushko family’s claim and said, “If I hit them first, it will be caught on camera.” He noted that there were “many angles where Paige walked towards me while I was standing alone.” The reporter added that “the person who came and started harassing me” was DeYanna Ostroushko, Christopher’s wife.

“I never went near these people,” Hernandez told Fox News Digital in an earlier interview. “All three of them came to me. The mother and father first pushed me, then instructed their daughter to come and attack me.”

Speaking to Fox News Digital on Wednesday, Hernandez recalled the attack, again saying that Christopher, Paide and DeYanna Ostroushko approached him first.

TPUSA Frontlines reporter Savanah Hernandez was pushed to the ground by a protester. (Savanah Hernandez/Frontlines TPUSA)

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION

Earlier this month, Hernandez told Fox News Digital that the attack was particularly shocking because, in his opinion, it crossed a huge line.

“There is a situation or a threshold that has now been crossed,” he said at the time. “Generally in the United States, typically in the West… it’s a basic and common thing for men not to attack or touch unarmed women. So a threshold was crossed in that, and that’s how shocking it was for me.”

Fox News Digital has reached out to the attorney representing the Ostroushko family for comment.

Fox News Digital’s Kristine Parks contributed to this report.