A man “attempted to stab” Rep. Lee Zeldin, the Republican candidate for governor of New York, at a rally Thursday, his campaign said. No one was injured in the attack in Perinton, Monroe County, authorities said.
The latest: The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement early Friday that a suspect has been charged with attempted second-degree assault after a man walked onto the stage at the event with “a weapon in his hand, swung it at Zeldin’s neck and said, “You are ready.”
- The suspect, identified as David Iakubonis, 43, of Fairport, Monroe County, was taken into custody before being “arraigned in Perinton Town Court and released on recognizance.”
- Zeldin wrote on Twitter late Thursday: “Someone tried to stab me on stage during the evening rally, but luckily I was able to grab his wrist and stop him for a few minutes before others got to him.” Law enforcement were on the scene “within minutes,” he said.
The big picture: Witnesses say Zeldin was giving a speech on bail reform when the attack happened, WIVB News reports.
- Zeldin and his team praised his partner, former NYPD Deputy Inspector Allison Esposito, for “quickly” jumping in to help tackle the man.
- “Congressman Zeldin returned to the stage to finish his remarks and thank the law enforcement officers who responded to the scene,” according to a statement from his spokeswoman, Katie Vincenz.
- Zeldin said he and everyone who attended the event was “fine” and thanked “the bystanders who came quickly to help and the law enforcement officers who quickly responded,” along with those who contacted him after the attack.
What they’re saying: New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, Zeldin’s Democratic challenger, tweeted that she was relieved to hear Zeldin was not injured.
- “I condemn this violent behavior in the strongest possible terms — it has no place in New York,” Hochul said.
Worth noting: Trump ally Zeldin has promised to be tough on crime if elected New York’s first Republican governor in about 15 years. He said in a post on Twitter that he was “determined as ever to do my part to make New York City safe again.”
- Vincent tweeted that “much more must be done” to make New York City safe.
- “This is out of control. Representative Zeldin is just the latest NY whose life has been affected by NY’s out-of-control crime and violence,” she said. “This has got to stop! Fortunately, we still have outstanding officers who answer the call to protect us.”
Go deeper: Capitol Police data shows threats against lawmakers have increased since 2017
Editor’s note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.
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