A man is under arrest for assaulting U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost at the Sundance Film Festival

Police arrested a man Friday night at a Sundance Film Festival party in Park City, Utah, for allegedly assaulting Democratic U.S. Representative Maxwell Frost of Florida in what appears to be a racially motivated attack.

The incident occurred shortly before midnight at a private event hosted by talent agency CAA at the High West Distillery, a popular venue during the festival. According to statements from Frost, the assailant punched him in the face after telling him that President Donald Trump was “going to deport him.”

“He was heard screaming racist remarks as he drunkenly ran off,” Frost wrote on social media platform X the following day. “The individual was arrested and I am okay.”

Christian Joel Young, 28, faces multiple charges including aggravated burglary, assaulting an elected official, and assault. Court records show he was transported to Summit County Jail, where Judge Richard Mrazik ordered him held without bail, citing that Young would constitute “a substantial danger to any other individual or to the community.”

Police reports indicate that Young apparently crashed the event by jumping a fence and was found in possession of a Sundance Film Festival pass that was not issued in his name. He is also accused of grabbing a woman by the shoulder during the incident.

Frost, 27, made history in 2022 when he became the first member of Generation Z elected to Congress. As a prominent young progressive voice in the House of Representatives, Frost has been outspoken on issues including gun violence prevention and immigration reform.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries condemned the attack, writing on social media that he was “horrified by the hateful and violent attack” on his colleague. “The perpetrator must be aggressively prosecuted,” Jeffries stated. “Hate and political violence has no place in our country.”

The Sundance Film Festival, one of the world’s premier showcases for independent cinema, issued a statement expressing strong condemnation of the assault, despite noting it occurred at a non-affiliated event.

“The behavior is against our values of upholding a welcoming and inspiring environment for all our attendees,” festival representatives said. “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 incident comes amid heightened concerns about political violence in the United States. The U.S. Capitol Police reported a significant increase in threats against members of Congress in recent years, with the department investigating approximately 7,500 cases in 2022 alone.

Park City Police Department representatives confirmed that officers responded to the scene shortly after midnight. Young has a prior misdemeanor conviction, according to court records, which may have factored into the judge’s decision to deny bail.

The assault occurred during the festival’s busy opening weekend, which typically draws thousands of filmmakers, industry professionals, and celebrities to the mountain resort town. The Sundance Film Festival, founded by Robert Redford in 1978, runs through January 28 this year and continues to be a significant cultural event that spotlights independent voices in cinema.

The festival has encouraged anyone with additional information about the incident to contact the Park City Police Department as the investigation continues.