Accused Zeldin Attacker Held on Bail After Federal Charges Brought

Congressman Lee Zeldin’s accused assailant will now cool his heels in jail after federal authorities intervened in a case that prompted outcry over New York’s lax bail policies.David Jakubonis, 43, accused of attacking Mr. Zeldin, New York’s Republican gubernatorial candidate, during a recent campaign rally told investigators he’d been drinking that day and didn’t know who the congressman was, authorities said as the man was arrested on a federal assault charge Saturday.Mr. Jakubonis made an initial court appearance Saturday before a federal magistrate judge on a single count of assaulting a member of Congress with a dangerous weapon. The charge carries a potential maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.Mr. Jakubonis was ordered held until a bail hearing in federal court Wednesday. Prosecutors said he should remain detained as both a risk of flight and source of danger, according to a court filing.Assistant federal public defender Steven Slawinski, representing Mr. Jakubonis, said in an email to the AP that he planned to ask the judge to release Jakubonis from custody.Mr. Jakubonis was arraigned Friday on a separate state charge of attempted assault in the second degree and was released by a local judge. That prompted criticism from Mr. Zeldin and other Republicans who held it up as an example of the need to reform New York’s bail laws, something Mr. Zeldin has called on Governor Hochul to toughen.A 2019 bail reform law in New York eliminated pretrial incarceration for people accused of most nonviolent offenses. The law gives judges the option to set bail in nearly all cases involving violent felonies, but it has exceptions for certain attempted felonies like attempted assault.The federal criminal complaint filed Saturday alleged Mr. Jakubonis, an Iraq War veteran, told investigators he was drinking whiskey on Thursday before he went onstage as Mr. Zeldin addressed a Veterans of Foreign Wars post in the town of Perinton to ask the speaker if he was disrespecting veterans.Mr. Jakubonis “did not know who the speaker was or that the speaker was a political person,” according to the complaint, which was filed in Rochester federal court. The complaint added that when Mr. Jakubonis watched video of Thursday evening’s incident he told investigators he “must have checked out” and that what was depicted in the video was disgusting.According to video of the attack, Mr. Jakubonis raised his arm toward Mr. Zeldin as he held a keychain with two sharp points. The congressman from Long Island then grabbed Mr. Jakubonis’ wrist and the two tussled to the ground as others jumped in to help. Mr. Zeldin, who also served in the military, suffered a minor scrape.

Accused Zeldin Attacker Held on Bail After Federal Charges Brought

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