DOJ, FBI Investigate Viral Cincinnati Assault With Five Arrests

The FBI and Department of Justice (DOJ) have confirmed an active federal investigation into a brutal assault in downtown Cincinnati that went viral, involving the attack on a white man and woman by a group of individuals. The DOJ's Civil Rights Division, led by Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, is closely monitoring how local authorities handle the case, with the possibility of applying federal hate crime laws if race is found to be a motivating factor. Several suspects have been arrested and charged with felonious assault, aggravated riot, and assault, with bonds ranging from $100,000 to $500,000. The incident has sparked widespread criticism of Cincinnati’s local leadership, including calls from Senator Bernie Moreno and Republican mayoral candidate Cory Bowman for stronger public safety measures and federal intervention. Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge condemned the attack, emphasizing the city can do better, while Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich pledged to prosecute the attackers to the fullest extent of the law. The case remains under intense federal and local scrutiny amid national attention and political debate over public safety and race relations in Cincinnati.