An Indian-American student at Washington State University was attacked in February after wearing a red “Make America Great Again” hat, leading to criminal charges and disciplinary action against two individuals affiliated with the university.
On the night of February 7, 2025, 28-year-old engineering student Jay Sani was leaving a local bar near the WSU Pullman campus while wearing a red MAGA hat.
As he walked, he was approached by Patrick Mahoney, a WSU instructor, and Gerald Hoff, a graduate student and teaching assistant.
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Security footage from the incident, later released publicly, shows a verbal confrontation escalating as Mahoney lunged at Sani, forcibly removing the hat from his head.
Hoff joined in, and both men proceeded to physically assault the student.
The video shows Sani being thrown to the ground, punched, and kicked while he lay bleeding and defenseless.
EXCLUSIVE: Frontlines reporter @choeshow has obtained surveillance footage showing Washington State University (WSU) PhD student instructor Patrick Mahoney and WSU employee Gerald Hoff attacking engineering student Jay Sani.
Sani claims that Mahoney and Hoff assaulted him… pic.twitter.com/AhNae3FDMT
— FRONTLINES (@FrontlinesTPUSA) April 15, 2025
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Following the incident, Sani reported the assault to local authorities.
Both Mahoney and Hoff admitted to participating in the attack during police questioning.
However, they claimed that Sani had provoked the confrontation.
Body camera footage of the two men’s confessions was released by Jonathan Choe, a journalist with Turning Point USA’s Frontlines project.
EXCLUSIVE: Here is the entire body cam footage showing the interview and arrest of former Washington State University(@WSUPullman) graduate student and communist instructor Patrick Mahoney. He was just fired by the school after our reporting.
He’s now charged with assaulting an… https://t.co/RUa1BJx1Qn pic.twitter.com/b0RtTQkb9P— Jonathan Choe (@choeshow) April 17, 2025
The footage quickly gained national attention, prompting calls for disciplinary action.
Mahoney and Hoff were arrested and charged with assault.
As the video continued circulating on social media, pressure grew on Washington State University to respond to the incident.
By early March, the university confirmed that Mahoney had been terminated from his position.
Hoff, who served as a teaching assistant, was removed from all instructional responsibilities.
In a statement issued by Phil Weiler, Washington State University’s Vice President for Marketing and Communications, the university acknowledged the incident and outlined the actions taken:
“Washington State University (WSU) is aware of an off-campus incident that occurred last February involving a WSU staff member and a graduate student. After an investigation conducted by the City of Pullman’s police department, and in accordance with WSU policies, the staff member’s employment has been terminated,” the statement read.
“The second individual involved was a graduate student serving as a teaching assistant. He was not a Washington State University professor. This person has been relieved of all teaching responsibilities,” the statement continued.
“In compliance with federal privacy laws, no further details regarding the matter will be disclosed. WSU remains committed to fostering a safe and supportive learning environment for all students. We take every complaint and concern seriously and will continue to address such matters with the utmost priority.”
The attack and the university’s response have reignited broader debates about political expression on college campuses and the treatment of conservative students.
Sani has not publicly commented on the outcome of the case but confirmed through legal representatives that he is cooperating fully with the investigation and is continuing his studies at WSU.
Mahoney and Hoff have not issued public statements since being charged. Legal proceedings related to the assault remain ongoing.
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