Authorities have arrested man in his late 20s following a violent, racially charged encounter with U.S. Representative Maxwell Frost (D-FL) during the Sundance Film Festival. The incident occurred late Friday into early Saturday.
Details of the Maxwell Frost Incident
The confrontation took place just after midnight at the High West (Distillery/Saloon) in Park City, a popular venue hosting a private party for the talent agency CAA. According to police affidavits and eyewitness accounts, the suspect—identified as Christian Joel Young—unlawfully entered the invitation-only event by jumping over a security barrier after being previously denied entry.
Once inside, Young allegedly approached Congressman Frost, the first member of Generation Z elected to Congress, and began shouting racist slurs. Frost reported that the assailant told him, “Trump is going to deport you,” before punching him in the face.
Witnesses further alleged that Young engaged in “strange and racially charged” conversations with other attendees. Young was also found in possession of a Sundance Film Festival pass that did not belong to him.
Legal Actions and Charges
Park City Police apprehended Young at the scene with the assistance of venue security and an unidentified attendee who helped detain him. Young was booked into the Summit County Jail and faces several serious charges, including Aggravated Burglary, Assaulting an Elected Official, and Simple Assault.
During a weekend hearing, County Judge Richard Mrazik ordered Young to be held without bail, citing concerns that he posed a “substantial danger” to the community and was a potential flight risk.
Responses from Leadership Concerning Maxwell Frost
Congressman Frost addressed the incident on social media the following morning, confirming he was not seriously injured. “The individual was arrested and I am okay,” Frost wrote, while thanking the Park City Police Department for their swift intervention.
The attack drew a sharp rebuke from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who called for the perpetrator to be “aggressively prosecuted,” stating that “hate and political violence have no place in our country.” Republican Governor Spencer Cox also denounced the violence, emphasizing that “political or racially charged violence of any kind is unacceptable in Utah.”
Moving Forward
The Sundance Film Festival issued a statement clarifying that while the assault happened at a non-affiliated event, they “strongly condemn” the behavior. The incident has cast a shadow over the festival’s final year in Park City before its planned relocation to Boulder, Colorado, in 2027.