The Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office in Ann Arbor, Michigan, has authorized charges against Temulun Togochog, a University of Michigan student, in connection with an alleged assault on a Jewish woman during a free speech event on campus Sunday.
Alyssa Fountain, administrative assistant at the prosecutor’s office, confirmed to JNS that the case was submitted on Monday and thoroughly reviewed. Togochog will be charged with one count of assaulting, resisting, or obstructing an officer and two counts of assault or assault and battery. A felony warrant is expected to be issued, and a court date will be set after her arraignment.
On Sunday, the event featured commentators Liz Benichou, Cam Higby, and Joe Redden discussing topics including Iran and Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee for Senate in Michigan. Video footage from the event shows an individual, identified as Togochog, engaging in a debate with Redden and then appearing to slap him. The individual then approached Benichou, who questioned what would happen if she “walked around like this in Iran.” The footage further shows the individual pushing Benichou to the ground and jumping on her before being pulled off by another student.
University of Michigan campus police responded to the incident. According to reports, Togochog resisted arrest and, after being handcuffed, made statements including, “I should have fing killed you when I fing had the chance” and “I’ve already been to a mental hospital, and I’ll go again if it means killing her.” The university police processed and released Togochog.
Reawaken USA, the faith-based group that organized the event, stated that their gatherings are intended for peaceful conversations and that while disagreement is part of free expression, it does not justify violence. The University of Michigan issued a statement on Monday asserting that physical violence has no place on its campus and that actions threatening safety or interfering with the right to express views will not be tolerated. Due to federal privacy laws, the university declined to comment on specific student conduct matters.