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Turning Point USA reporter Savanah Hernandez says she was assaulted while doing her job outside the Whipple federal building, and now the people she says attacked her are trying to use the courts against her. The Department of Justice brought federal charges against the Ostroushko family over that confrontation. Now Hernandez says the same family has filed ex parte temporary restraining‑order petitions that portray her as the aggressor — a development that smells like legal theater aimed at silencing a journalist.
What actually happened at the protest
Video of the April confrontation shows Hernandez reporting outside a protest at the Whipple federal building. The Justice Department says a federal grand jury indicted Christopher, Deyanna and Paige Ostroushko for assault and related counts tied to that incident. The DOJ stressed the alleged assault targeted a journalist — and that is a serious charge that should concern everyone who cares about a free press.
Claims of restraining orders — and why they raise eyebrows
Hernandez told BlazeTV and Fox News that each member of the Ostroushko family filed ex parte temporary restraining‑order petitions in state court and that some orders were granted without her present. She says the petitions flip the script, accusing her of being the aggressor and asking for sweeping bans near the Whipple facility and even on public sidewalks. Local mainstream outlets report the defense is pursuing state‑court measures and say motions are “moving through state court,” but I could not find a public scanned order to independently confirm a signed, granted TRO at the time of reporting. In short: she says they got orders; other outlets say they asked for them. Either way, it looks like a risky play to use civil process as a counterattack.
Why this matters for press freedom and the rule of law
If true, using ex parte restraining orders to muzz le a journalist who has publicly accused you of assault is a dangerous precedent. Hernandez has also filed a federal civil suit seeking damages, and the criminal case remains active. The DOJ’s indictment underscores the gravity of the alleged conduct. We need courts to act transparently here — not to become props in a partisan drama. Weaponizing the civil process to avoid accountability is exactly the kind of tactic that erodes trust in our institutions.
What to watch next and a common-sense takeaway
Watch the state court records (Minnesota Court Records Online) for any signed orders, and watch the federal docket for the criminal case and Hernandez’s civil complaint. If restraining orders were issued ex parte, Hernandez will have an opportunity in court to challenge them and to demand evidence. The public deserves clarity: did the Ostroushkos really get protection from a judge, or is this a public relations move amplified online? Either way, reporters must be able to do their jobs without fear — and if someone assaulted a journalist, they should not get to flip the script and silence the person they allegedly harmed.
