A man was taken into custody on Friday night at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, accused of assaulting a congressman from Florida. The incident unfolded during a party at the High West Distillery, an event organized by talent agency CAA.
Democratic U.S. Representative Maxwell Frost took to social media platform X on Saturday to share that he had been punched in the face by a man who claimed that former President Donald Trump would deport him. This confrontation is reported to have happened at the private gathering.
“The individual was shouting racist comments as he drunkenly fled the scene,” Frost posted. “He was apprehended, and I am unharmed.”
Frost, who holds the distinction of being the first Gen Z member of Congress, expressed his gratitude to both the venue’s security team and the Park City Police Department for their prompt response. Authorities confirmed that officers were dispatched to the scene shortly after midnight.
According to court documents, 28-year-old Christian Joel Young was arrested on charges including aggravated burglary and assaulting an elected official. He was subsequently taken to Summit County Jail.
The police affidavit further details that Young allegedly grabbed a woman by the shoulder. He is believed to have gatecrashed the event by scaling a fence, possessing a Sundance Film Festival pass under a name that was not his own.
The Sundance Film Festival representatives released a statement saying that they “strongly condemn” the assault, noting that while it occurred at a non-affiliated event that the behavior is “against our values of upholding a welcoming and inspiring environment for all our attendees.”
“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 read. “We encourage anyone with additional information on this matter to contact the Park City Police Department.”
County Judge Richard Mrazik ordered Young held without bail, on the grounds that he would constitute, “a substantial danger to any other individual or to the community, or is likely to flee the jurisdiction of the court if released on bail.” Young has a prior misdemeanor conviction, according to court records.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries wrote on X that he was horrified by the attack and that “the perpetrator must be aggressively prosecuted.”
“Hate and political violence has no place in our country,” Jeffries continued.
Messages seeking comment were left for representatives for CAA.
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