The culprit was detained after assaulting US Rep. Lee Zeldin with a “sharp object”
The Republican candidate in the upcoming New York gubernatorial election, Lee Zeldin, was attacked during a campaign event outside Rochester on Thursday. The perpetrator was filmed jumping on stage and assaulting Zeldin with a “sharp object”, according to eyewitnesses.
While initial reports suggested the perpetrator was armed with a knife and allegedly tried to “stab” the politician, some photos shared on Twitter showed that the weapon appeared to be brass knuckles with spikes.
“Fortunately, I was able to grab his wrist and stop him for a few moments until others tackled him,” Zeldin said in a statement cited by AP, confirming that he did not suffer any serious injuries.
Clear view of the attack ag. Rep. Lee Zeldin today. Terrifying and terrible.
Vid found here: https://t.co/sqVgV79sAC pic.twitter.com/Zphgkw8bXk
— Olivia Beavers (@Olivia_Beavers) July 22, 2022
Multiple videos of the incident shared on Twitter show the attacker walking onto the stage and starting a scuffle with the congressman, before both of them fall to the ground as people around rush to help.
Assassination attempt on Rep Lee Zeldin👇🏼pic.twitter.com/iBWh8DKOKP
— Alex Plitsas 🇺🇸 (@alexplitsas) July 22, 2022
The attacker, whose identity has yet to be revealed, was apprehended and taken into custody, while the congressman eventually moved on to finish his speech.
Weapon which appears to be brass knuckles used in attack on Lee Zeldin. pic.twitter.com/f4XndDylMJ
— Moshe Schwartz (@YWNReporter) July 22, 2022
“This could have really ended in a horrible way tonight and this is unacceptable,” said state GOP Chair Nick Langworthy. He urged the incumbent Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul to provide official security detail to her opponent in the upcoming October 8 gubernatorial election.
Rep. Zeldin’s campaign issues a statement on the attack at a rally today in Monroe County pic.twitter.com/4ZikluiDgu
— Nick Reisman (@NickReisman) July 22, 2022
Gov. Hochul condemned the attack “in the strongest terms possible,” adding such violent behavior “has no place in New York.”
The guy who attacked Lee Zeldin is a middle-aged white guy in upstate New York wearing an “Iraqi Freedom Veteran” cap, so if you’re just reflexively assuming “leftist!!!” based on nothing but an evidence-free partisan hunch, you may want to cool your jets until more info comes in pic.twitter.com/oDoqiwecqM
— Michael Tracey (@mtracey) July 22, 2022
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