Prosecutors Authorize Charges Against University of Michigan Student Seen Attacking a Conservative Commentator at a Campus Free-Speech Event, Breitbart Reports
Breitbart, citing JNS, says the Washtenaw County prosecutor will charge Temulun Togochog with three counts after Sunday's video of her shoving commentator Liz Benichou. No court date is set. The university says violence has no place on campus.
Charges are coming against the University of Michigan student seen on video attacking a conservative commentator on campus, Breitbart reports.
The decision. The Washtenaw County Prosecutor's Office in Ann Arbor has authorized charges against Temulun Togochog, according to a JNS report cited by Breitbart. Alyssa Fountain, an administrative assistant at the office, told JNS: "We thoroughly reviewed the evidence that was submitted to us." The case reached the office Monday.
The counts. Fountain said Togochog will be charged with one count of assaulting, resisting or obstructing an officer and two counts of assault or assault and battery. "There is no court date at this time," she said, adding that a felony warrant will be issued and a court date set once she is arraigned.
The incident. Video posted Sunday shows Togochog shoving Liz Benichou to the ground during a free-speech event on campus, Breitbart says. Breitbart describes Benichou as a conservative influencer and Jewish commentator, and says the confrontation followed a question about whether certain clothing would be acceptable in Iran. Earlier footage shows Togochog arguing with two men at a table whose sign asked, "Is Islam Compatible with the West?" Breitbart says that as police took her away she shouted that she should have killed Benichou when she had the chance.
The university. The University of Michigan said Monday: "Physical violence has no place on our campus." It said it is committed to protecting free speech, that actions that threaten others or interfere with their right to express views "will not be tolerated," and that federal privacy law prevents it from commenting on specific student conduct matters.
Earlier report. We covered the arrest earlier this week.
What we could not check. Togochog is charged, not convicted, and the charges are not yet filed in court. We did not find a response from her or an attorney. We read Breitbart's account of the JNS report, not the JNS article, the videos or the prosecutor's statement directly.