Florida congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost said he was attacked at a party during the Sundance Film Festival in Utah by a man who told him that United States President Donald Trump would deport him, the British newspaper The Guardian reported today.
"Last night at the Sundance Film Festival, I was attacked by a man who told me Trump would deport me, before punching me in the face. He was heard shouting racist slurs as he drunkenly fled. The person was arrested and I am fine," Frost said in a post on social media X.
The 29-year-old lawmaker, who made history as the first Afro-Cuban and the first member of Generation Z elected to Congress, thanked the facility's security and Park City police for their response to the incident.
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 enhanced sentencing."
According to a statement provided by Park City Police Community Relations Lt. Danielle Snelson, officers responded shortly after midnight to an incident at the High West Saloon.
"Upon arrival, officers conducted an investigation and determined that Christian Young had trespassed at a private party after previously being denied entry due to not having an invitation. Upon entering the saloon, Young assaulted Florida Congressman Maxwell Frost and a woman who was attending the private event," the statement said.
Frost confirmed the attack in a post he shared in response to a Variety article that said he was attacked on Friday at a private event hosted by talent agency CAA. According to the outlet, an "uninvited guest" was arrested after a "racially charged incident" that occurred in the venue's restroom.
The attacker "allegedly shocked other people in the restroom by saying how proud he was to be 'white.' He then allegedly punched Frost after he left the restroom," Variety reported, citing a source at the party.
"Multiple people at the CAA party saw the congressman being punched in the face before security responded," reported Matthew Belloni of the American digital media outlet Pak.
In a later post, Frost said he was "doing well" and thanked everyone who had sent him their support.
"We live in frightening times. Please be careful and don't let people like this silence you. Let's move on," the MP said.
House Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries wrote that he was "appalled" to learn of the attack on Frost.
"I am grateful that he is well, but I am appalled that this horrific attack occurred. The perpetrator must be vigorously prosecuted. Hate and political violence have no place in our country, and the entire Democratic family in the House of Representatives stands with Maxwell," Jeffries said.
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