Democratic congressman punched in racist attack at Sundance film festival

The Florida congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost said he was assaulted by a man who said Donald Trump would deport him at a party during the Sundance film festival in Utah.

“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,” Frost said in a Saturday post on X. “He was heard screaming racist remarks as he drunkenly ran off. The individual was arrested and I am okay.”

The 29-year-old lawmaker, who made history as the first Afro-Cuban and the first member of Gen Z to be elected to Congress, thanked venue security and Park City police for their response to the incident.

In a statement, Park City police said the suspect, identified as Christian Young, was arrested and booked on charges of “aggravated burglary and two counts of simple assault, with each charge subject to a sentencing enhancement”.

According to statement provided by Park City police community outreach lieutenant Danielle Snelson, officers responded to an incident at the High West Saloon just after midnight.

“Upon arrival, officers conducted an investigation and determined that Christian Young unlawfully entered a private party after previously being turned away for not having an invitation. Once inside the saloon, Young assaulted Florida Congressman Maxwell Frost and a female who was attending the private event,” it said.

Frost confirmed the assault in post shared in response to a Variety article, which reported that Frost was attacked on Friday at a private event hosted by the talent agency CAA. According to the entertainment site, a “party crasher” was arrested after a “racially charged incident” that occurred in a venue bathroom.

The attacker “apparently shocked other people in the bathroom by talking about how proud he was to be ‘white’. He then allegedly punched Frost, after he left the facilities,” Variety reported, citing a source at the party.

“Multiple people at the CAA party saw the congressman get punched in the face before security intervened,” Matthew Belloni of Puck reported.

In a later tweet, Frost said that he was “OK” and thanked his well-wishers.

“We are in scary times,” the congressman said. “Please stay safe and do not let these people silence you. Onwards.”

House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries wrote he was “horrified” to learn of the attack on Frost.

“Grateful that he is OK, but appalled that this terrifying assault took place. The perpetrator must be aggressively prosecuted,” Jeffries said. “Hate and political violence has no place in our country, and the entire House Democratic Caucus family stands with Maxwell.”