Lee Zeldin, the Republican candidate for New York governor, was attacked during a campaign stop near Rochester in Monroe County Thursday.
Zeldin, who is also a sitting US congressman, was giving a speech at the Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Perinton Thursday night. A man jumped on stage and started yelling before he wrestled with Zeldin and pulled out a blade, WROC-TV reported, citing multiple witnesses who spoke to the news channel.
A witness who was with Zeldin said the candidate wasn’t hurt and took the stage again following the incident, the outlet reported.
Here is video of the attack involving Rep. Zeldin from witness Cody Crippen pic.twitter.com/Ur1CfpkdsS
— Nick Reisman (@NickReisman) July 22, 2022
Zeldin released the following statement:
Thank you to all who reached out following tonight’s attack. Grateful I was able to grab onto his wrist in time when he lunged for my neck. Grateful many individuals on site quickly jumped in & tackled him. Grateful for the local law enforcement who apprehended the attacker.
Political scores should be settled at the ballot box, not on stage at campaign events trying to violently attack candidates you disagree with. This is not ok. This is the United States of America. This is the greatest country in the history of the world.
Political scores should be settled at the ballot box, not on stage at campaign events trying to violently attack candidates you disagree with. This is not ok. This is the United States of America. This is the greatest country in the history of the world. 🇺🇸
— Lee Zeldin (@RepLeeZeldin) July 22, 2022
The man who jumped on stage and tried to attack the Republican nominee for New York governor is already out of jail Friday morning.
Authorities say U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin was assaulted by 48-year-old David Jacubonis at an upstate event Thursday, but the congressman escaped serious injury. Jacubonis, of Fairport, NY, has been charged with attempted assault.
Lee Zeldin's alleged attacker quickly released from jail — just as rep. predicted https://t.co/tbvTn2nODI pic.twitter.com/PUVwOVWasA
— New York Post (@nypost) July 22, 2022
ICYMI: Lee Zeldin was ambushed on stage last night by a man armed with a weapon, his campaign says https://t.co/z4iGZ6ggJy
— NBC New York (@NBCNewYork) July 22, 2022
My team has informed me about the incident at Lee Zeldin's campaign event tonight. Relieved to hear that Congressman Zeldin was not injured and that the suspect is in custody. I condemn this violent behavior in the strongest terms possible — it has no place in New York.
— Kathy Hochul (@KathyHochul) July 22, 2022
All New Yorkers and Americans stand with @leezeldin. We are grateful that he is unharmed after a violent criminal attack this evening. Lee is a strong leader and will be the Governor of New York who will STOP this raging lawlessness and crime.
— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) July 22, 2022
Lee Zeldin almost got assassinated and still finished his speech
What a boss https://t.co/VO55gqNIDH
— Will Chamberlain (@willchamberlain) July 22, 2022
