Florida Rep. Maxwell Frost Attacked at Sundance Film Festival Party, Suspect Charged with Hate Crimes
Representative Maxwell Frost, 29, was punched in the face at a party hosted by the agency CAA during the Sundance Film Festival on Friday. The incident occurred when an uninvited guest allegedly told Frost that President Donald Trump would deport him.
The suspect, who appeared to be drunk and made racist comments, followed Frost out of the restroom and assaulted him in the hallway. Security quickly intervened, removing the assailant from the party. Police officers responded to a report of assault at High West Saloon and determined that the man had unlawfully entered the private event after being turned away for not having an invitation.
The suspect was arrested and charged with two counts each of simple assault and aggravated burglary, with each charge subject to a sentencing enhancement. Frost reported hearing racist remarks from the assailant as he ran off, adding that the individual was subsequently arrested and he himself is "okay."
Festival officials condemned the incident, stating they "strongly condemn last night's assault and abhor any form of violence, harassment, and hate speech." The Sundance spokesperson emphasized the importance of safety and security for attendees, expressing their concern for Frost's well-being.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called the attack on Frost "horrified" and expressed support for the congressman. In a post on X, Frost thanked people for their outpouring of support, writing, "We are in scary times... Please stay safe and do not let these people silence you."
The incident highlights the growing concern over hate crimes and violence against politicians and public figures. As one prominent politician's safety is threatened, it raises questions about the country's ability to prevent and respond to such incidents.
Representative Maxwell Frost, 29, was punched in the face at a party hosted by the agency CAA during the Sundance Film Festival on Friday. The incident occurred when an uninvited guest allegedly told Frost that President Donald Trump would deport him.
The suspect, who appeared to be drunk and made racist comments, followed Frost out of the restroom and assaulted him in the hallway. Security quickly intervened, removing the assailant from the party. Police officers responded to a report of assault at High West Saloon and determined that the man had unlawfully entered the private event after being turned away for not having an invitation.
The suspect was arrested and charged with two counts each of simple assault and aggravated burglary, with each charge subject to a sentencing enhancement. Frost reported hearing racist remarks from the assailant as he ran off, adding that the individual was subsequently arrested and he himself is "okay."
Festival officials condemned the incident, stating they "strongly condemn last night's assault and abhor any form of violence, harassment, and hate speech." The Sundance spokesperson emphasized the importance of safety and security for attendees, expressing their concern for Frost's well-being.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called the attack on Frost "horrified" and expressed support for the congressman. In a post on X, Frost thanked people for their outpouring of support, writing, "We are in scary times... Please stay safe and do not let these people silence you."
The incident highlights the growing concern over hate crimes and violence against politicians and public figures. As one prominent politician's safety is threatened, it raises questions about the country's ability to prevent and respond to such incidents.
! I mean, who expects that kinda thing at a party? I'm glad Rep Frost is okay, though 
. But, like, this just goes to show how messed up things are in the US right now. We gotta talk about these issues and work towards creating a more accepting environment for everyone 
. And, honestly, it's getting scary out there... but we can't let fear control us 
. Let's keep supporting each other and spreading love and kindness 
!
cant wait 2 see how this all plays out 
Someone gets attacked at a party and it's all because of their words? 
It's not okay to be violent or make hurtful comments just because you don't agree with someone's views 
. The fact that the guy was drunk and said racist stuff is totally unacceptable 
. I'm glad Rep Frost is "okay" 
. It's like, you're trying to have a good time and celebrate some awesome films 
, but then something like this comes out of nowhere 
. The cops did their job by arresting the guy, but it's still a big wake-up call for us as a society 
.
i dont think it should just be accepted that people can go around being racist and physically attacking others because they disagree with them its like totally unacceptable 
if someone is going to make racist comments or try to intimidate someone, they should be held accountable in a more serious way 
, and it's getting worse 
. According to FBI data, hate crimes increased by 15% in 2022 alone 
. and it's not just politicians, anyone can get targeted 
. I'm still trying to process how scary this must be for Rep Frost 
. It's so sad that we need to be talking about this stuff anymore. Can't we all just get along?! 
someone gotta do sumthin bout these ppl who r spewin hate & violence @ innocent people 
can u even believe someone would diss Trump like that infront of him 
like how rude is dat?? 
anywayz i hope Rep Frost iz ok now he sounds really shaken 
i feel so bad 4 his fam & friends 2 have 2 go thru this 
need to get their act together, some drunk guy gets kicked out & decides to take it out on a rep who's just trying to enjoy his weekend... 
We need to have a bigger conversation about hate crimes and what we can do to stop them. And let's be real, some people are just going to find a reason to get angry or violent no matter what 
. But still, I hope Frost is okay and that he gets the support he needs from his colleagues and constituents 
Frost seems like a pretty chill guy, and for someone to attack him like that just because of who he represents is wild 
... I'm glad security stepped in and got the person arrested ASAP 
... but seriously, why do we still have to deal with this kind of hate speech and violence? 
... we gotta keep supporting people like Frost who are trying to make a difference 
... I'm just worried about Max Frost, man... he was just tryin' to do his job and have a good time at the festival, and then this happens. It's like, what's next? Are we gonna start seein' politicians gettin' attacked on the street? 
.
just heard about Rep Maxwell Frost getting punched at a party in Utah 
. And yeah, what's up with these random hate crimes? It's like they're on the rise everywhere! But I guess we gotta keep talking about this stuff so people start paying attention 
anyway, I'm glad Rep Frost is okay 
, but it's not enough that he's safe 
:
.
anyways the fact that the guy was drunk and made racist comments is just low 
i feel bad for frost and all the other politicians who have to deal with this kind of stuff but idk what the solution is... are we gonna see more security at events or is it just gonna keep happening 
anyway, hope Maxwell is okay and gets the justice he deserves 
and what's with the guy who attacked him getting charged with hate crimes? shouldn't he be facing more serious charges for what he did?