A 28-year-old man has been charged with multiple felony counts for allegedly assaulting Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) at the Sundance Film Festival on Friday, according to court documents obtained by Axios and statements from Frost and local law enforcement.
Zoom out: The incident comes after a tumultuous year in which fears of violence on Capitol Hill and demands for increased security for lawmakers surged following a series of high-profile political shootings.
Driving the news: 28-year-old Christian Joel Young allegedly assaulted Frost and an unidentified woman at a bar in Park City, where the festival is held annually, according to a probable cause affidavit.
- Young allegedly told Frost and the other patron "we are going to deport you and your kind" before yelling a racial slur and punching Frost in the face, the affidavit says.
- Young did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
What they're saying: "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 Saturday in a post on X.
- "He was heard screaming racist remarks as he drunkenly ran off. The individual was arrested and I am okay. Thank you to the venue security and Park City PD for assistance on this incident."
- A Park City PD spokesperson said in a statement to Axios that officers "determined that Christian Young unlawfully entered a private party after previously being turned away for not having an invitation" and "assaulted" Frost and the other patron.
The Sundance Film Festival said in a statement to Axios that they "strongly condemn" the incident, which they said "occurred at a non-Festival-affiliated event."
- "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.
Zoom in: After initially being denied entry to the event, Young alleged jumped over a fence but was then "challenged" by bar security and jumped back over the fence, according to the affidavit.
- Security staff told law enforcement they were not sure how Young ultimately gained access, speculating that he jumped the fence again.
- Young repeatedly tried to engage Frost and the unidentified woman in what they describe in the affidavit as "weird conversations" and allegedly reacted violently when rebuffed.
- In addition to punching Frost, Young allegedly grabbed the woman by her shoulder and "pushed her out of his way and against the bar," before being subdued by patrons and security, according to the affidavit.
What's next: Young is facing charges of aggravated burglary, assaulting an elected official and simple assault, according to the court documents.
- County Judge Richard Mrazik ordered Young to be held without bail, writing in his order that there is "convincing evidence" he is a flight risk and "would constitute a substantial danger" to the community.
