Democratic lawmaker says he was blocked from entering the Department of Education
Representative Maxwell Frost shared a video of Mr. X and other elected officials being prevented from entering the Department of Education building.
Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost (D-Florida) was allegedly assaulted and “punched” in the face at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah on Friday, January 23, by a man who had threatened to deport him, lawmakers and local police said.
“Trump was going to deport[him]before punching[Frost]in the face,” Frost wrote on social media, saying he was assaulted by a man. According to the post, the alleged attacker “was heard shouting racist slurs as he fled while intoxicated.”
“The person was arrested and I’m fine,” Frost wrote.
Daniel Snelson, Lt. for Community Engagement with the Park City Police Department, told USA TODAY in an email that shortly after midnight on Saturday, Jan. 24, officers responded to a report of an assault at the High West Saloon, a bar and restaurant that is part of a large distillery.
Officers investigated and identified the assailant as Christian Young, Snelson wrote, who “unlawfully entered the private party after being turned away for not having an invitation.” Once inside, “Young assaulted a woman who was attending a private event with Florida Congressman Maxwell Frost,” she wrote.
Officers arrested Young and booked him into the Summit County Jail on charges of aggravated robbery and two counts of simple assault.
Mr. Frost later reiterated in social media posts about X that he was okay and wrote that he was grateful for the goodwill he had received.
“We are in scary times,” Frost wrote. “Please stay safe and don’t let these people silence you. Please continue.”
Frost will make history as the first Gen Z member to serve in the U.S. Congress in 2022, and will be up for re-election in 2024. Mr. Frost, one of seven children, was adopted as an infant after his mother gave him up for adoption because she did not have the resources to care for and raise another child, his campaign website states.
Frost’s adoptive mother and grandmother came to Florida from Cuba in the early 1960s during a Freedom Flight with only a suitcase and no money, the bio says. Freedom Flight allowed thousands of refugees to fly from Cuba to the United States.
The Sundance Film Festival is held annually in Salt Lake City and Park City, Utah. This year’s film festival will run from Thursday, January 22nd to Sunday, February 1st. USA TODAY reached out to Sundance for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
Kate Perez covers national trends and breaking news for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kperez@usatodayco.com or X @katecperez_.
