Indian American student wearing pro-Trump hat attacked near WSU

A Washington State University (WSU) electrical engineering student was reportedly assaulted by a graduate student and a staff member while wearing a pro-Donald Trump hat near campus in February.

Jay Sani, a 25-year-old junior, was attacked outside The Coug, a popular bar near campus on Feb. 28. Patrick Mahoney, a 34-year-old graduate student, allegedly grabbed Sani’s “Trump 2024 TAKE AMERICA BACK” hat and threw it into the road. When Sani responded by throwing his food bag toward Mahoney, both Mahoney and Gerald Hoff, a 24-year-old research assistant, allegedly took Sani to the ground and each delivered a punch.

“I’m an engineering student that wants to get the degree, and move on. So what if I like someone that you don’t like,” Sani wrote in a Facebook post. “We have the First Amendment, and it’s not okay that just because you don’t like that person, I should be attacked for it.”

Body camera footage reportedly shows both men admitting to striking Sani, with Mahoney hitting him in the face and Hoff striking his legs. Both suspects were arrested, charged with misdemeanor fourth-degree assault and later released. According to police reports, Mahoney, who wore a shirt reading “MARX WAS RIGHT,” told officers, “You wanna wear the hat, hey, there’s gonna be a price to pay.”

WSU has since relieved Mahoney of all teaching responsibilities, while Hoff has been terminated from his staff position. Phil Weiler, WSU vice president of marketing and communications, told KREM 2, “There’s no place on our campus for people who may be disrespectful, may be unwilling to let people express their views.”

Sani said he is sharing the news “because of how toxic the left has gotten.” The 2018 Pullman High School graduate, who also serves as president of the WSU College Republicans and secretary of the WSU chapter of the conservative group Turning Point USA, has pre-trial hearings scheduled for May 22 for Hoff and May 29 for Mahoney.

The Rebel Yellow has reached out to Sani for updates.