NEW YORK — A man has been arrested and charged with attempted assault after he attacked Republican Representative Lee Zeldin, who is running for governor of New York state, on Thursday.
“I’m fine,” Mr. Zeldin said after the attack. Fortunately, I was able to immobilize his wrist for a few moments, waiting for others to grab hold of it.”
A spokesperson for the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office identified the suspect as 43-year-old David Jakubonis.
The incident came as Mr Zeldin, who will seek to dethrone incumbent Governor Kathy Hochul in November, was addressing veterans in the town of Perinton, near Rochester.
Footage of the incident shows Mr Jakubonis taking to the stage as the politician delivers his speech. The suspect approaches Mr. Zeldin and says, “You’re finished,” before grabbing him by his clothes and trying to hit him on the neck with a sharp object in the shape of a cat’s head .
Photos of the object suggest that it could be a key ring that can be put on the knuckles for self-defense.
New York State Republican Party Chairman Nick Langworthy said Zeldin only suffered a scratch.
A spokesperson for Mr. Zeldin said Friday that the candidate intends to continue his public appearances.
Ms. Hochul condemned the attack in a statement, and said she was relieved that Mr. Zeldin was not injured and that the suspect was arrested.
Mr. Zeldin is a former lieutenant in the US Army Reserves. He was deployed to Iraq in 2009 as a lab technician and has represented the Long Island district in Congress since 2015. He is a close ally of former President Donald Trump and is among the Republican representatives who have opposed certification of the 2020 election result.
His campaign is mainly about fighting crime, but Ms. Hochul is fighting hard. He will have to convince independent voters, who outnumber the Republicans in the state, and Democrats to join him if he wants to hope to win.
Democrats should focus on Mr. Zeldin’s fierce defense of Mr. Trump.
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