Man wearing spiked plastic knuckles attempts to strike Zeldin during campaign stop upstate

Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley), who represents the East End in Congress and is the Republican candidate for governor, was attacked by a man wearing plastic knuckles in Monroe County during a campaign event near Rochester yesterday. Zeldin was able to stop the man’s swing and was not injured, according to a campaign spokesperson.

A video of the attack posted on social media by Spectrum News reporter Nick Reisman shows a man, who the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office identified as David Jakubonis, 43, of Fairport, approach Zeldin on his right as he spoke to supporters gathered outside a Veterans of Foreign Wars hall in the Village of Fairport. The video shows the main raise his right hand wearing spiked plastic knuckles and attempt to strike the congressman. He told Zeldin, “You’re done,” according to a statement from the Monroe County sheriff.

Zeldin, an Army reservist, grabbed Jakubonis’ wrist and held him back, before campaign staff and supporters tackled Jakubonis, causing him to fall down, taking Zeldin with him. They subdued the man until sheriff’s deputies arrived and took him into custody.

The man wore plastic knuckles in the shape of a cat’s head with two large pointed ears. Plastic knuckles, like metal knuckles, are considered weapons and their possession is illegal in New York.

Here is video of the attack involving Rep. Zeldin from witness Cody Crippen pic.twitter.com/Ur1CfpkdsS

— Nick Reisman (@NickReisman) July 22, 2022

After recovering, Zeldin continued to address the crowd. “Ladies and gentlemen, this is why we must unequivocally back our men and women of law enforcement to keep us safe,” he said.

Zeldin said in a statement issued after the attack that he, his campaign staff and his running mate, Alison Esposito, were safe.  

“The attacker is in custody. Grateful for the attendees who stepped up quickly to assist and the law enforcement officers who quickly responded,” Zeldin said in a statement early this morning. “I’m as resolute as ever to do my part to make New York safe again. This suspect will likely be right back out on the street immediately.”

Jakubonis was charged with attempted assault in the second degree, a class E felony, and released on his own recognizance, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. 

Under New York law following passage of the bail reform measures in 2019, the charge is not one for which a judge can mandate bail as a condition of release. Zeldin has been highly critical of the reform measures, arguing that they are responsible for an increase in criminal incidents in the state and blaming Democrats, particularly the party’s standard-bearer, incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul, for increased crime.

Hochul wrote on Twitter after she heard about the incident: “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.”

Jakubonis is reportedly an Iraq War veteran who was discharged in 2012. According to his Linked-In page, he served as a medical lab technician in the U.S. Army from 2007 to 2012.