The Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office has authorized felony charges against a University of Michigan student caught on video assaulting conservative commentator Liz Benichou during a free speech event on campus in Ann Arbor on Sunday.
The student, identified as Temulun Togochog, will face a count of assaulting, resisting or obstructing an officer, along with two counts of assault or assault and battery, according to Alyssa Fountain, an administrative assistant with the prosecutor’s office, who spoke to JNS. Fountain said the case was submitted to the office on Monday and that staff “thoroughly reviewed the evidence that was submitted.”
“There is no court date at this time, but a felony warrant for these charges will be issued by the court and a court date set once she has been arraigned on the charges,” Fountain said.
Video circulating on social media shows Togochog shoving Benichou to the ground after the commentator questioned whether Togochog’s attire would be permitted in Iran. Officers are seen arresting Togochog shortly afterward. As she was taken into custody, Togochog shouted, “I should have fucking killed you while I had the fucking chance!”
Earlier footage from the same day shows Togochog confronting two men seated at a campus table displaying a sign that read, “Is Islam Compatible with the West?” In that clip, Togochog is seen clapping in one of the men’s faces and shouting, “This is fucking stupid, bro. Where’s your fucking permit?”
University Response
The University of Michigan addressed the incident in a statement issued Monday. “Physical violence has no place on our campus,” the university said. “The university is firmly committed to protecting freedom of speech and expression, and actions that threaten the safety of others or interfere with their right to express their views will not be tolerated.”
The university added that “violations of law or university policy are taken seriously and addressed through appropriate processes, with meaningful consequences when violations are established,” but said federal privacy law prevents it from commenting further on individual student conduct matters.
No arraignment date has been set. The felony warrant will be issued by the court once that process moves forward.
