Suspected Attacker of Rep. Zeldin Arrested on Federal Assault Charge

The suspected attacker of Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) has been arrested on a federal assault charge, the Justice Department announced.

David Jakubonis, 43, was arrested on July 23 and charged with assaulting a member of Congress with a dangerous weapon, following an investigation by federal authorities, U.S. Capitol Police, and state and local law enforcement. He was initially taken into custody on July 21 after he tried to stab the lawmaker, who is the Republican nominee for governor, during a campaign stop at a Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Fairport, New York, near Rochester. Zeldin wasn’t injured.

Jakubonis was arraigned on July 21 for second-degree attempted assault but was released on his own recognizance immediately after. The alleged assailant reportedly appeared in front of Magistrate Judge Marian Payson on July 23, according to a complaint filed in federal court.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett Harvey, who is handling the case, described the object that Jakubonis used to assault Zeldin as “a keychain with two sharp points.”

The attacker allegedly pointed the object toward Zeldin while saying “You are done” several times. The lawmaker was able to escape injury and stop the man by grabbing his wrist until others assisted in taking the attacker to the ground, Zeldin’s campaign said.

According to his former neighbor, Jakubonis experienced a “rapid decline” in his mental health following the death of his wife and medical discharge from the Army in 2012.

If convicted of the federal charge, he could face up to 10 years in prison. He is scheduled in court for a bail hearing on July 27.

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Zeldin, the GOP nominee for governor, extended his gratitude to the federal agencies over the new charge.

“I’m thankful that federal authorities came in to do what New York State’s broken pro-criminal justice system could not—uphold the


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