An Ohio State University professor faces suspension after physically assaulting a cameraman who attempted to film former university president Gordon Gee during a campus interview.
Attack Caught on Video
The February 9 incident occurred at Smith Lab following Professor Perez’s American Leadership class, where Gee served as guest speaker. Local blogger DJ Byrnes had finished interviewing Gee about controversial topics, including the Richard Strauss abuse case and Jeffrey Epstein connections, when an accompanying cameraman approached for additional questions. Video evidence shows Perez blocking the cameraman’s path before escalating to violence.
Liberals feel justified in assaulting a journalist, just because he doesn’t agree with him.
This is an Ohio State University professor of civics. He couldn’t answer a question, so he responded with violence. pic.twitter.com/vGW9aWfn36
— Joey FAFO (@jkeeter82) February 11, 2026
Within seconds, Perez knocked the phone from the cameraman’s hands, swung at his head, and tackled him to the ground. Standing over the fallen man, Perez claimed the cameraman had touched him and put the camera in his face, despite video evidence showing the cameraman stepping back without physical contact. The unprovoked attack has prompted a police report with OSU’s police department.
Center’s Mission Under Scrutiny
Perez works for the Chase Center, established by Ohio’s General Assembly in 2023 to promote intellectual diversity and free speech on campus. The center’s stated mission emphasizes civil discourse and open inquiry, making the professor’s violent suppression of media questioning particularly controversial. Ohio State’s American Association of University Professors condemned the incident as contradicting the center’s core values.
Political Fallout
Senator Bill DeMora called the attack cowardly and ironic, noting the contradiction between the Chase Center’s free speech mission and Perez’s assault on journalists exercising First Amendment rights. DeMora emphasized the importance of protecting press freedom, warning that failure to defend constitutional rights leads to their erosion. University officials acknowledged the concerning nature of the incident while directing media inquiries through official channels rather than addressing the professor’s violent behavior directly.