New York gubernatorial candidate Rep. Lee Zeldin was nearly stabbed Thursday at a campaign rally in Parrinton, New York, a small town just outside Rochester.
Republican He was confronted when he was in the middle of a speech at the VFW location about bail reform as part of their ‘United to Fire Hochul’ campaign.
Video from the scene shows the suspect entering the stage slightly behind Zeldin, calmly approaching him and eventually raising his hand toward the candidate’s upper body.
The suspect has been named as David Jacobonis. The attacker was referred to as ‘an Iraq War veteran allegedly under the influence of alcohol’ Rochester first.
A group of Zeldin supporters quickly subdued the attacker. In a tweet, Zeldin said: ‘Someone tried to stab me on stage during this evening’s rally, but luckily, I was able to hold her wrists and hold her for a few moments until the others confronted her. .’
A weapon resembling a pointed pair of brass knuckles has been recovered from the spot. The weapon had the face of a cat, which read: ‘Made in the USA’.
The candidate was not injured in the incident and returned to the stage after the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department arrested the suspect.
Before his arrest, Zeldin supporters are said to have held the attacker in a zip-tie.
The suspect reportedly said words under the influence of ‘Okay, you’re done’ before launching his attack, according to WHEC.
The man who killed Zeldin’s potential assailant was named AMVETS national director Joe Chenley. AMVETS is a non-partisan veterans advocacy group.
Zeldin, a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump, is the Republican nominee to replace current New York governor Kathy Hochul.
New York GOP President Nick Langworthy said in the aftermath of the attack that current government Kathy Hochul recently ‘fanned the fire of hate’ today by posting Zeldin’s event online and encouraging her supporters to participate.
The suspect is being taken into custody by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department. No fee declared
Suspect’s clear weapon being handed over to authorities
While Zeldin was in the middle of the speech, the suspect was seen entering the stage. He can be heard saying the words under the influence of ‘You are done’
Zeldin is seen during the New York Republican Governor’s Debate at the studios of Spectrum News NY1 on June 20, 2022 in New York
Since 2015, Zeldin has represented New York’s first district in Congress, representing the affluent Hampton-area of Long Island.
He has been an opponent of New York’s bail reform laws, abolishing cash bail for nonviolent and misdemeanor charges.
Her campaign said in a statement on Thursday: ‘Congressman Zeldin, Alison Esposito and all members of Team Zeldin are safe following tonight’s attack. Much more must be done to make New York safe again. It is getting very out of hand in this state.
The message continued: ‘Unfortunately, Congressman Zeldin is just the latest New Yorker whose life has been affected by out-of-control crime and violence in New York. This needs to stop!’
Suspect being fielded by a group of Zeldin supporters
Gov. Hochul speaking at an event on the night that Zeldin was attacked in New York City, where she was advocating for the city to host the 2024 Democratic National Convention.
After the attack, New York GOP president Nick Langworthy blamed the current governor for the attack, saying: ‘It is no coincidence that a few hours earlier, Kathy Hochul fanned the flames of hatred by directing her supporters to her rally program. Gave. This is unacceptable conduct for anyone, let alone a sitting governor.
On their campaign website, Hochul’s team pointed to the incident of Zeldin on 21 July, telling her supporters: ‘To hear about RSVP Zeldin’s ‘Election Integrity Task Force’ and his recent election fraud scandal involving his campaign. Photocopied over 11,000 duplicate signatures.
A week before the attack, the congressman was removed from the Independent Party’s ballot line in November’s gubernatorial election after more than 12,500 signatures on his application were found to be duplicates of the original.
After Thursday’s incident, Governor Hochul said: ‘Relieved to hear that Congressman Zeldin was not injured and the suspect is in custody. I strongly condemn this violent behavior – it has no place in New York.’
According to his LinkedIn page, Joe Chenley, who killed the assailant, is a candidate for New York Assembly in 2022.
According to his LinkedIn page, the man who first shot down the attacker is Chenley, a candidate for the 2022 New York State Assembly.
Chenley is a longtime advocate for veterans and has served as a political advisor to former United States Senator Jim Webb’s short-lived campaign for the presidency in 2016.
After Thursday’s incident, his wife wrote on Facebook: ‘Joe Chenley is a hero.’
New York City Councilwoman Joan Ariola immediately condemned the attack in a statement, saying: ‘Attack on political candidates, regardless of their point of view, is absolutely unacceptable.’
He continued: ‘This country was founded on the idea of freedom of expression. Such political violence represents a dangerous shift away from the principles on which this nation was built.