Michigan prosecutors authorize charges against student accused of attacking Jewish commentator

Prosecutors in Washtenaw County have authorized charges against a University of Michigan student accused of attacking Jewish commentator Liz Benichou during a free-speech event on campus Sunday. The incident was captured on video.

A case was submitted to the prosecutor’s office Monday. The student, Temulun Togochog, is expected to face one count of assaulting, resisting or obstructing an officer and two counts of assault or assault and battery. A felony warrant will be issued, and a court date will be set after her arraignment. No date has been scheduled yet.

Benichou, who posts online as “basedinmalibu,” said she was hosting an open debate when a woman approached the gathering, shouted at people there and allegedly hit another conservative commentator in the face with her phone. Benichou said the woman then turned toward her.

The other commentator, online creator Joseph Anthony Redden, known as “The Older Millennial,” was seated at a table displaying signs asking whether Islam is evil and whether it is compatible with the West. He later said the woman struck him after confronting him about whether he had a permit for the setup.

Benichou said she told the woman she would not be able to speak freely in Iran, referring to the country’s treatment of protesters. Benichou and fellow commentator Cam Higby then challenged the woman about women’s freedoms there. In video of the exchange, Benichou can be heard asking what would happen if the woman dressed the same way in Iran.

Benichou said the woman lunged at her. Video appears to show her knocking Benichou to the ground with both hands and trying to stomp on her before a bystander pulled her away.

The woman continued shouting as officers intervened. She briefly broke free from one officer, who then brought her to the ground and handcuffed her, telling her not to resist. As she was led toward a police vehicle, she threatened Benichou, saying she should have killed her when she had the chance.

Benichou said she injured her lower back in the attack but would not be deterred from speaking publicly. Police described the gathering as an “unpermitted political event” and said Togochog was processed and released.

The event was organized by Reawaken USA, a faith-based group. The organization said its gatherings are meant to encourage peaceful discussion and that disagreement does not justify violence.

Higby said the university contacted the group and asked it to remove footage of the incident from social media, citing concern about negative repercussions for Togochog. The university later disputed that account, saying reports that officials had requested the videos be removed were inaccurate and that it knew of no such request.