New York Republican gubernatorial nominee Lee Zeldin is unscathed after a man rushed the stage at a campaign event.
Zeldin, a sitting House member, was holding a campaign event at the Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Perington, New York, when a man reportedly armed with a sharp object walked up on stage and grabbed his arm.
“You’re done,” the man can be heard saying.
Members of Zeldin’s campaign and the audience tackled him. However, he appears to have managed to keep his grasp on Zeldin and dragged him down as well.
Watch the video below:
Here is video of the attack involving Rep. Zeldin from witness Cody Crippen pic.twitter.com/Ur1CfpkdsS
— Nick Reisman (@NickReisman) July 22, 2022
Clear view of the attack ag. Rep. Lee Zeldin today. Terrifying and terrible.
— Olivia Beavers (@Olivia_Beavers) July 22, 2022
Vid found here: https://t.co/sqVgV79sAC pic.twitter.com/Zphgkw8bXk
In a statement Thursday night, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department said, “On July 21, 2022 at approximately 8:00 p.m., Representative Lee Zeldin was on stage giving a campaign speech at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8495 at 300 Macedon Center Road, in the Town of Perinton. A male from the crowd climbed up on the stage and approached Zeldin. The male had a weapon in his hand, swung it towards Zeldin’s neck, and told him, ‘You’re done.'”
“Members of the audience and Rep. Zeldin’s campaign restrained the male until deputies arrived and took him into custody. There were no injuries. The suspect is identified as David G. Jakubonis, 43 y/o, of Fairport,” it added.
Finally, the statement shared that the suspect had been charged with attempted assault in the second degree, a felony, and was “released on his own recognizance.”
Zeldin is running to defeat New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) in the November general election.
In a tweet, Zeldin addressed the incident as he wrote, “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,” he added.
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
Hochul also addressed the incident in a tweet, writing, “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,” she added.
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
Mike Cialini, commander of VFW Post 8495, told NBC News of the alleged assailant, “No motive, no nothing. Once he was subdued, he was making sounds. They were just weird noises.”
