Florida Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) claimed he was punched in the face during a racist assault while he attended the Sundance Film Festival in Utah Friday night.
Frost, the first Gen. Z member of Congress, alleged that a drunk man attacked him and spewed hateful comments about him and his friend’s race during the private party.
“Last night, I was assaulted by a man at Sundance Festival who told me that Trump was going to deport me before he punched me in the face. He was heard screaming racist remarks as he drunkenly ran off,” Frost wrote on X Saturday evening.
“The individual was arrested and I am okay. Thank you to the venue security and Park City PD for assistance on this incident.”
Frost, 29, was at the invite-only party which was organized by talent agency Creative Artist Agency (CAA) at the High West Distillery in Park City, Utah, when 28-year-old Christian Joel Young snuck into the business, according to Fox 13 Salt Lake City.
Young is accused of walking up to Frost and a friend and confronting the pair before he launched into his alleged racist attack.
“We are going to deport you and your kind,” Young allegedly said while hugging Frost, the outlet reported, citing police.
Frost and his friend pushed back on Young before the unwanted guest allegedly shouted a racial slur and struck the congressman in the face before running off, according to the outlet.
An alleged female victim of Young says the man also walked up to her and her friend, telling them, “you are the kind we are going to deport,” before pushing the unidentified victim into the bar and walking away.
Young was found with an administrative access pass not issued in his name and was seen hopping a fence to the venue before he was ejected by security. Police believe he jumped the fence again and snuck inside the venue.
Young was booked on suspicion of assault, aggravated burglary, and assaulting an elected official.
Officials will screen the two assault charges that could be enhanced by the suspected hate crime.
Young, who was held without bail, told police he didn’t remember what happened and couldn’t remember his own name, according to Fox 13 Salt Lake City.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) condemned the alleged racist attack against his House colleague.
“I am horrified by the attack on Congressman Maxwell Frost,” Jeffries wrote on X. “Grateful that he is okay, but appalled that this terrifying assault took place. The perpetrator must be aggressively prosecuted. Hate and political violence has no place in our country, and the entire House Democratic Caucus family stands with Maxwell.”
Sundance Film Festival officials denounced the reported attacks at the private party outside the festival Friday.
“We strongly condemn last night’s assault and abhor any form of violence, harassment, and hate speech. While the incident occurred at a non-Festival-affiliated event, such behavior is intolerable and against our values of upholding a welcoming and inspiring environment for all our attendees,” the festival said in a statement, according to Variety.
“The safety and security of our festival attendees is always our chief concern, and our thoughts are with Congressman Frost and his continued well-being,” the statement said.
Frost, the youngest representative in Congress, has been a critic of GOP leadership since being elected in 2022, most recently calling President Trump a “grifter” last February.
“So if we wanna look at waste, fraud, and abuse — which I’m down to do — why is there complete silence on the other side of the aisle about looking at the complete grifter that is the President of the United States and the richest man on the Earth,” Frost said during an House Oversight Committee hearing while he was banned from speaking for flouting decorum.
Committee Chair Rep. James Comer (R-Ky) threatened to forcibly remove Frost from the chaotic hearing.
Frost has been publicly vocal against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, calling out the republican during an onstage rant at a Paramore concert in Washington, DC, in June 2023.
“Do you want to say anything to these beautiful people?” lead singer Hayley Williams asked Frost as she rested her arm around his shoulder, video posted online captured.
“F–k Ron DeSantis! F–k fascism and lead with love!” Frost shouted into the mic, raising his hand into the sky.
