A Washington State University instructor faces charges after allegedly attacking a student for wearing a MAGA hat.
Incident in College Hill Turns Violent
In February, WSU junior Jay Sani was grabbing takeout in Pullman’s College Hill neighborhood. While walking past The Coug, a popular student bar, he was suddenly confronted. Surveillance cameras caught Patrick Mahoney and Gerald Hoff allegedly attacking him in front of dozens of witnesses. Sani ended up with cuts and bruises but managed to walk away.
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.
— FRONTLINES (@FrontlinesTPUSA) April 15, 2025
Sani claims that Mahoney and Hoff assaulted him… pic.twitter.com/AhNae3FDMT
Suspects Arrested Hours After the Attack
Police arrested Mahoney and Hoff just hours later on Colorado Street. Both men now face fourth-degree assault charges, which is a misdemeanor. Investigators claim the attack wasn’t politically or racially motivated. Still, Sani believes his red MAGA hat made him a target.
Student Says Politics Played a Role
Sani spoke with Jonathan Choe from the Discovery Institute. He said he didn’t know Hoff but had issues with Mahoney in the past. Sani, a conservative, volunteers for groups like Turning Point USA. Mahoney, on the other hand, is a progressive and teaches political science at WSU.
Mahoney Linked to Far-Left Activism
Mahoney regularly protests in support of left-wing causes. He recently pushed Pullman’s City Council to support a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict. The proposal failed, but Mahoney stayed active. He has ties to the Democratic Socialists of America and other progressive labor groups. He has even worn a hammer-and-sickle pin in his official school photo.
WSU Suspends Mahoney, but Student Remains Concerned
After the incident, WSU suspended Mahoney from teaching and attending classes. Sani says he’s still worried Mahoney could return. University officials haven’t released any public comments yet.
Campus Braces for Charlie Kirk Event
On April 17, WSU will host conservative speaker Charlie Kirk at a Turning Point USA event. Left-wing activists, including Antifa supporters, are threatening to disrupt the gathering. Campus security is preparing for possible protests and unrest.
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