A prominent MAGA supporter and her partner have been charged following an alleged racist assault at a central London Tube station. Philipp Ostermann, 37, a German national, and his partner Melissa Rein Lively, 40, an American PR executive, have been charged in relation to an incident at Bond Street Underground station last year.
Details of the Incident
A woman was allegedly assaulted at the station entrance after her pushchair collided with a woman walking ahead of her. Detectives from the British Transport Police have been investigating the incident, which unfolded on October 11 at about 7.30pm. A man who was with the woman then began shouting racial abuse at the victim, who was with her family.
The woman allegedly grabbed the victim’s hair, and the man is said to have pulled out a small bottle he claimed was pepper spray before spraying it towards the family. The family didn’t previously report any ill effects from the spray, BTP said.
Background of the Accused
Rein Lively is a vocal supporter of Donald Trump and the Make America Great Again movement, while Ostermann is a venture capitalist. She founded the America First PR agency providing ‘anti woke’ services. Rein Lively fought for the White House spokesperson job in Trump’s second term, which was won by Karoline Leavitt. Meanwhile, Ostermann is the associate director of a Munich-based private equity company called Aequita, which has offices in Tokyo and South Carolina.
The couple were reportedly pictured in London around the time of October 11 before they left the country.
Legal Proceedings
British Transport Police said: ‘Philipp Ostermann, aged 37, and a German national, has been charged with two Racially Aggravated Public Order offences and a further Public Order offence. ‘Melissa Rein Lively, aged 40, and a US national, has been charged with one count of Assault by Beating. ‘The first hearing is scheduled to take place at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 19 May.’
