The recent federal charge Jakubonis faces for the attack on Zeldin carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.
Photo: Eric Baradat / AFP / Getty Images
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A man accused of trying to stab New York gubernatorial candidate Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin has been arrested. and faces a federal assault charge.
The suspect identified as David G. Jakubonis, 43, of Fairport, New York, was arrested Saturday and charged with assaulting a member of Congress with a dangerous weapon, reported CBS News.
The federal charge was filed just hours after Jakubonis was released on parole. following his appearance on another state charge of attempted assault in Perinton Municipal Court.
The recent federal charge Jakubonis faces carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.
The suspect is accused of approaching a flatbed trailer where Zeldin, who belongs to the House of Representatives from the 1st district of New York, was speaking Thursday night during a campaign event. The suspect then jumped into the trailer while he was holding a keychain with two sharp points. He lunged at Zeldin and yelled, “You’re done!” as the two struggled, authorities said.
The federal complaint alleges that Jakubonis told police that he had been drinking whiskey that day, saying that “I didn’t know who the speaker was or that the speaker was a political person.”
Law enforcement sources told CBS News on Saturday that Jakubonis was showing signs of intoxication on the night of the attack when Monroe County Sheriff’s deputies arrested him, at which point the suspect told authorities he was drunk.
As a result, the judge issued a protective restraining order. The search warrant for Jakubonis’ residence did not determine that there were weapons.
A law enforcement official said the state charge of attempted assault in the second degree is a felony that does not qualify for bail under New York State bail reform laws. .
Meanwhile, Jakubonis made his initial appearance in federal court in Roschester. and remains in custody until his next hearing, which was scheduled for next Wednesday in federal court. He is also due back in state court on August 30 on the attempted assault charge.
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