GOP Nominee for NY Governor Assaulted During Campaign Event
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Rep. Lee Zeldin, the Republican nominee in New York's 2022 gubernatorial race, was assaulted at a campaign event Thursday.
Zeldin was on stage at the event in Perinton, New York, when a man armed with a pointed weapon approached him and grabbed his arm. The two struggled for a moment between several others moved to subdue the attacker, who fell to the ground along with Zeldin. The suspect was charged with attempted second degree assault, and was released from custody several hours later, according to Monroe County's Sheriff’s Department.
Zeldin tweeted later that the suspect "will likely be instantly released under NY’s laws." His 2022 opponent, incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul (D), condemned "this violent behavior in the strongest terms possible" and said she was "relieved to hear that Congressman Zeldin was not injured and that the suspect is in custody." Zeldin is running on a tough-on-crime platform, and he and Hochul have traded criticisms over New York's purportedly lenient criminal justice laws and Zeldin's support for former President Donald Trump.
The attack made headlines across the spectrum. Most highlighted the fact that the attacker was armed and Hochul's comments. Reports from right-rated outlets focused more on the attacker's weapon and how he was released hours after his arrest, which many said Zeldin predicted with his tweet. Coverage from left- and center-rated sources tended to mention Zeldin's support for Trump's unsubstantiated claims of decisive voter fraud in the 2020 election.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Right
Alleged Lee Zeldin attempted attacker charged with felony, immediately released just as congressman predicted
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.
Zeldin, who is the Republican candidate for governor in New York, predicted the alleged attacker...
From the Center
GOP nominee for NY governor assaulted at rally
The man accused of attacking U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, the Republican candidate for New York governor, at an upstate event Thursday is out of jail this morning. Meanwhile, the congressman says he’s doing OK after only suffering minor injuries.
Photos show what appears to be a two-bladed weapon clenched in the suspect’s fist as he approached Zeldin.
Zeldin’s campaign said the attacker was taken into custody and the congressman continued his speech.
“I’m OK,” Zeldin said in a statement. “Fortunately, I was able to grab his wrist and stop him for a few...
From the Left
GOP Rep. Lee Zeldin Attacked During NY Gubernatorial Campaign Event
Rep. Lee Zeldin, the Republican nominee in New York’s governor race, was attacked during a campaign event in the town of Perinton, southeast of Rochester, on Thursday night.
As Zeldin was giving a speech at the Veterans of Foreign Wars, a man got on stage holding something in his hand, according to News 8 WROC.
Spectrum News reporter Nick Reisman obtained a witness’ video of the moment which shows a man wearing a hat approaching Zeldin, and appears to grab him by the arms as other people attempt to intervene. Zeldin,...
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