Savanah Hernandez, a reporter with Frontlines TPUSA, spoke with Liz Collin on her podcast about how she was assaulted while reporting outside ICE headquarters in Minnesota.
Now that charges have finally been filed against the anti-ICE “protesters” who assaulted her, Hernandez is speaking out about the mainstream media manipulation that followed and the so-called justice system in Minnesota.
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“What happened after this assault was very draining … physically, emotionally, mentally, but I’m doing a lot better than I was,” Hernandez told Collin.
Hernandez said that the indictments of the people who assaulted her—Paige, Deyanna, and Chris Ostroushko—have helped in her journey for justice.
Hernandez explained to Collin how she went to the Whipple Federal Building “to simply conduct point and shoot journalism.”
“I made a point not to interview. I didn’t want to engage with anybody because I know how volatile these situations can be and I also know that these left-wing protesters can become very easily agitated,” Hernandez said.
“I made a point to be as small as possible to not bring any attention to myself,” she added.
Hernandez also explained how things changed when one of the anti-ICE protesters recognized her.
“William Scott Kelly, who was already previously arrested for storming a church in Minneapolis, he came and identified me and screamed at me until a mob formed,” Hernandez recalled.
According to Hernandez, at some point Chris Ostroushko, his wife Deyanna, and their daughter Paige became involved: “Chris and Deyanna did come up to me and they started body checking me … and then after that, that’s when Chris does instruct his daughter to go up to me and blow a whistle in my ear and then the full assault ensues as I’m trying to leave.”
Videos of the incident quickly went viral on social media. However, despite the video evidence, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty’s office did not charge all three. Only Chris Ostroushko was charged with fifth-degree assault, a misdemeanor, and the lowest assault charge on the books, even though video evidence shows Chris pushing Hernandez to the ground while she was walking away.
Man charged with fifth-degree assault in incident at the Whipple Building: pic.twitter.com/3TtFfvmMS2
— Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty (@HennepinAtty) April 29, 2026
However, unlike Moriarty, a federal grand jury indicted each member of the Ostroushko family with one count of assault.
“I will say that the decision is not surprising and in the press release they stated that they did not find or they had insufficient evidence to bring forward charges against Diana and Paige,” Hernandez said.
She also explained that, “It’s interesting to me because a federal grand jury did find probable cause to charge all three with assault. However, when it comes to Hennepin County, their office did not see the same thing despite watching the exact same footage.”
“And it’s why I’m very, very grateful that the DOJ and FBI stepped in because what I have seen over my last, again, almost decade of reporting on these protests, reporting on violence on the streets of the United States of America, is that oftentimes in these left-wing jurisdictions, what happens is if you’re on the wrong side of the political aisle or it isn’t politically expedient for the district attorney to bring forward charges, they simply won’t do it,” Hernandez said.
She also pointed out “that is why we are seeing such a radicalization and normalization of violence on the streets of America. And that is why this entire family was in complete shock when they faced consequences to their actions, because for a long time, it has been very normalized for the left wing to act this way because the justice system doesn’t actually come in and apply the law equally.”
Months earlier, the Minnesota Star Tribune heaped praise on Chris Ostroushko. They held him up as a heroic activist — an angry, everyday Minnesota man for his ranting about ICE and federal law enforcement.
Let’s not forget the praise @StarTribune poured on these people just months ago… https://t.co/RTxZjiCtKg pic.twitter.com/MgwA7gR50H
— Liz Collin (@lizcollin) April 29, 2026
Meanwhile, after the incident, WCCO seemed to almost all but outright deny what actually happened in the viral video.
“To CBS Minnesota specifically, I have never seen such a lack of due diligence or basic journalism in my life. And it’s hilarious because so many people try to say that people like myself aren’t real journalists,” Hernandez said.
“They decided to interview two of the protesters who were involved in the mob and who were involved in screaming profanities at me … These two people have since made multiple pieces of content downplaying my assault and laughing about it and mocking me by calling me little Erica Kirk,” she continued.
“I’m here to tell the truth. And because the mainstream media refuses to do it, I will be back on the ground making sure that American stories are heard because oftentimes it isn’t just me who is ignored by the media, but everybody in America who truly has issues that they want to bring light to. You know, the truth is very often overlooked.”
Liz Collin
Liz Collin is a multi-Emmy-Award-winning investigative reporter, news anchor, and producer who cares about Minnesota. She is the producer of The Fall of Minneapolis and Minnesota v We the People documentary films, and author of the Amazon best-selling book, They’re Lying: The Media, the Left, and The Death of George Floyd. Her work has prompted important state laws. Yet perhaps most of all, Liz has been giving a voice to the truth—and helping others tell their stories—for more than 20 years.
Dr. JC Chaix
Dr. JC Chaix is an editor, educator, and an expert in media studies. He wrote and directed the Alpha News documentary "The Fall of Minneapolis" and "Minnesota v We the People."
