Florida Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) claimed he was punched within the face throughout a racist assault whereas he attended the Sundance Movie Competition in Utah Friday night time.
Frost, the primary Gen. Z member of Congress, alleged {that a} drunk man attacked him and spewed hateful feedback about him and his buddy’s race throughout the personal occasion.
“Final night time, I used to be assaulted by a person at Sundance Competition who instructed me that Trump was going to deport me earlier than he punched me within the face. He was heard screaming racist remarks as he drunkenly ran off,” Frost wrote on X Saturday night.
“The person was arrested and I’m okay. Thanks to the venue safety and Park Metropolis PD for help on this incident.”
Frost, 29, was on the invite-only occasion which was organized by expertise company Artistic Artist Company (CAA) on the Excessive West Distillery in Park Metropolis, Utah, when 28-year-old Christian Joel Younger snuck into the enterprise, in response to Fox 13 Salt Lake Metropolis.
Younger is accused of strolling as much as Frost and a buddy and confronting the pair earlier than he launched into his alleged racist assault.
“We’re going to deport you and your sort,” Younger allegedly stated whereas hugging Frost, the outlet reported, citing police.
Frost and his buddy pushed again on Younger earlier than the undesirable visitor allegedly shouted a racial slur and struck the congressman within the face earlier than operating off, in response to the outlet.
An alleged feminine sufferer of Younger says the person additionally walked as much as her and her buddy, telling them, “you’re the sort we’re going to deport,” earlier than pushing the unidentified sufferer into the bar and strolling away.
Younger was discovered with an administrative entry cross not issued in his title and was seen hopping a fence to the venue earlier than he was ejected by safety. Police imagine he jumped the fence once more and snuck contained in the venue.
Younger was booked on suspicion of assault, aggravated housebreaking, and assaulting an elected official.
Officers will display screen the 2 assault expenses that might be enhanced by the suspected hate crime.
Younger, who was held with out bail, instructed police he didn’t keep in mind what occurred and couldn’t keep in mind his personal title, in response to Fox 13 Salt Lake Metropolis.
Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) condemned the alleged racist assault towards his Home colleague.
“I’m horrified by the assault on Congressman Maxwell Frost,” Jeffries wrote on X. “Grateful that he’s okay, however appalled that this terrifying assault passed off. The perpetrator have to be aggressively prosecuted. Hate and political violence has no place in our nation, and all the Home Democratic Caucus household stands with Maxwell.”
Sundance Movie Competition officers denounced the reported assaults on the personal occasion outdoors the pageant Friday.
“We strongly condemn final night time’s assault and abhor any type of violence, harassment, and hate speech. Whereas the incident occurred at a non-Competition-affiliated occasion, such habits is insupportable and towards our values of upholding a welcoming and provoking surroundings for all our attendees,” the pageant stated in a press release, in response to Selection.
“The protection and safety of our pageant attendees is all the time our chief concern, and our ideas are with Congressman Frost and his continued well-being,” the assertion stated.
Frost, the youngest consultant in Congress, has been a critic of GOP management since being elected in 2022, most just lately calling President Trump a “grifter” final February.
“So if we wanna have a look at waste, fraud, and abuse — which I’m all the way down to do — why is there full silence on the opposite aspect of the aisle about wanting on the full grifter that’s the President of the USA and the richest man on the Earth,” Frost stated throughout an Home Oversight Committee listening to whereas he was banned from talking for flouting decorum.
Committee Chair Rep. James Comer (R-Ky) threatened to forcibly take away Frost from the chaotic listening to.
Frost has been publicly vocal towards Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, calling out the republican throughout an onstage rant at a Paramore live performance in Washington, DC, in June 2023.
“Do you need to say something to those stunning individuals?” lead singer Hayley Williams requested Frost as she rested her arm round his shoulder, video posted on-line captured.
“F–ok Ron DeSantis! F–ok fascism and lead with love!” Frost shouted into the mic, elevating his hand into the sky.
