Man Who Attacked Lee Zeldin on Stage With Sharp Object Released From Jail Hours After Incident

Rep. Lee Zeldin, the republican candidate challenging Kathy Hochul in the upcoming New York governor race, was attacked on stage Thursday while giving a speech.

43-year-old David Jakubonis was brandishing a sharp object as he rushed the stage.

Video of the incident shows Jakubonis putting the object close to Zeldin’s face while saying something.

Zeldin was able to grab the attacker’s arm, buying time for his security team to tackle the man.

Zeldin said that he was ‘ok’ following the incident:

“Fortunately, I was able to grab his wrist and stop him for a few moments until others tackled him.”

Jakubonis was charged with attempted assault, but was released just hours later.

This is what justice looks like in Kathy Hochul’s version of New York.

WHAT THE F#@$.

"A man who allegedly attacked Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., with a sharp object at a campaign stop in Perinton, New York, Thursday evening was charged with a felony and released from custody within hours of his arrest." https://t.co/FrOLqH1LmD

— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) July 22, 2022

The attacker has already been released, as reported by Fox News:

A man who allegedly attacked Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., with a sharp object at a campaign stop in Perinton, New York, Thursday evening was charged with a felony and released from custody within hours of his arrest, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department said.

The suspect, identified as David G. Jakubonis, 43 of Fairport, N.Y., was charged with attempted assault in the second degree.

He was arraigned in Perinton Town Court and released on his own recognizance, the sheriff’s department said.

Here’s video of the attack:

Rep. Lee Zeldin, the Jewish Republican nominee in New York’s gubernatorial race, was attacked by a man wielding a sharp object during a campaign stop Thursday evening. pic.twitter.com/Cya0Bj38QC

— Jewish News Syndicate (@JNS_org) July 22, 2022

43-year-old Army veteran David Jakubonis has been charged with attempted assault for apparently trying to stab U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, the GOP candidate for New York governor, at an upstate event Thursday evening. https://t.co/5Gb759uTHv

— The Associated Press (@AP) July 22, 2022

The Associated Press reported on the deranged man’s assault on Rep. Zeldin:

A man brandishing a sharp object who attacked U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin as the Republican candidate for New York governor delivered a speech in western New York has been charged with attempted assault.

“I’m OK,” Zeldin said in a statement after the incident Thursday. “Fortunately, I was able to grab his wrist and stop him for a few moments until others tackled him.”

David Jakubonis, 43, was arraigned and released, a Monroe County sheriff’s spokesperson said. It’s not clear whether Jakubonis has an attorney who can speak for him. A message seeking comment was left at a number listed for Jakubonis.

Jakubonis, who was under the influence of alcohol at the time, according to local reports, was arraigned for second-degree attempted assault, which is a felony, and freed on his own recognizance. https://t.co/gbPP383XIQ

— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) July 22, 2022

Hey @KathyHochul,

The man that attempted to assassinate @leezeldin is back out in the community.

Your policies are a dumpster fire. pic.twitter.com/hsWtQKNyn9

— Jeremy Redfern (@JeremyRedfernFL) July 22, 2022

BREAKING REPORT: On the same day Republican nominee for governor Lee Zeldin was ATTACKED WITH A WEAPON AT A CAMPAIGN STOP, Current NY Gov. Kathy Hochul ISSUED A PUBLIC SCHEDULE of his events mocking and replacing his events with Democratic talking points about Trump..

— Chuck Callesto (@ChuckCallesto) July 22, 2022

Someone tried to kill Lee Zeldin and now they are out on bail. Assassination attempts against Congressmen get you out of jail in hours.

— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) July 22, 2022

A man tried to murder Lee Zeldin on stage at a campaign event and New York’s soft-on-crime laws immediately released his attacker back onto the streets.

Democrats are the anti-law and order party.

— Nick Adams (Alpha Male) (@NickAdamsinUSA) July 22, 2022

Kathy Hochul said she was “relieved” that Zeldin wasn’t injured:

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

However, Hochul previously released a campaign ad on Twitter, where she called Zeldin a “far-right extremist.”

Kathy Hochul, why was Lee Zeldin attacked tonight? https://t.co/INcapFhySf

— Jack Poso 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) July 22, 2022

She also released a “media advisory” about Zeldin’s speech beforehand, leaving many to criticize her for her rhetoric.

You sent your supporters after him. And they came. https://t.co/hoTKsqcPxe pic.twitter.com/K7Z1VptMTk

— Arthur Schwartz (@ArthurSchwartz) July 22, 2022

New York Gov. Kathy Hochu encouraged her supporters to confront Republican challenger Rep. Lee Zeldin on his “far-right agenda” hours before a man wielding a knife tried to attack Zeldin at a campaign stop in Fairport, New York.https://t.co/V9uEUNODJG

— Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) July 22, 2022