Alleged Lee Zeldin Attacker Claims He Didn’t Know Who Zeldin Was
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
The man suspected of trying to stab New York representative and Republican gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin claimed he didn’t know who Zeldin was or that he was a “political person,” authorities said Saturday as they arrested the alleged assailant on federal assault charges.
David G. Jakubonis approached Zeldin on Thursday as the Republican was giving a speech in Monroe County as part of his gubernatorial campaign against incumbent Democrat Kathy Hochul. Jakubonis grabbed Zeldin’s arm while holding a keychain with two sharp points and said, “you’re done,” several times during the attack, according to FBI special agent Timothy J. Klapec.
Videos of the attack show Jakubonis pulling Zeldin to the ground as they struggled, and bystanders subduing Jakubonis.
This is video of Lee Zeldin being attacked and almost stabbed on stage at a Fire Hochul event in Fairport, NY.pic.twitter.com/xazg7G7sqb
— MAGA GANG VISH 🔫 (@VishBurra) July 22, 2022
Jakubonis told investigators that he had drunk whiskey the day of the attack and that he “must have checked out,” Klapec said. Jakubonis added he previously did one tour in Iraq while he was in the Army, and wondered if Zeldin, also an Army veteran, was disrespecting veterans on stage.
He was charged with one count of assaulting a member of Congress with a dangerous weapon, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of ten years in prison.
Jakubonis was previously charged on Thursday with attempted assault in the second degree and was released merely hours later on his own recognizance, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department said.
Zeldin predicted the attacker would be released “instantly” due to a 2019 New York law that prohibits judges from setting bail for non-violent crimes.
His words as he tried to stab me a few hours ago were “you’re done”, but several attendees, including @EspositoforNY, quickly jumped into action & tackled the guy.
Law enforcement was on the scene within minutes.
The attacker will likely be instantly released under NY’s laws. pic.twitter.com/wZEyIyrjFe
— Lee Zeldin (@leezeldin) July 22, 2022
“After being charged with a felony for last night’s attack, the man who tried to stab me was instantly released back onto the street due to New York’s insane cashless bail law,” Zeldin told the Washington Free Beacon. “Too many people throughout our state have suffered violent attacks and even death, as a result of criminals who were allowed to walk free because of soft-on-crime bail policy. We must repeal cashless bail in New York!”
