Fury after military vet who tried to stab NY governor candidate Lee Zeldin with ‘made in USA’ blade is released under state’s lax bail laws HOURS after being arrested – just as politician predicted

  • Military veteran David Jakubonis, 43, was released without bail hours after he attacked Zeldin, who, fittingly, was giving a speech on bail reform
  • Jakubonis, 43, approached the candidate on Thursday and told him: ‘Okay, you’re done’
  • ‘The suspect will likely be right back out on the street immediately,’ Zeldin predicted after the attack 
  • The suspect was quickly subdued by Marine Corps combat veteran Joe Chenelly
  • Photos from the scene show authorities recovered what appeared to be a set of brass knuckles with a sharp blade in the shape of a cat
  • New York’s GOP chairman blamed Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul for the attack after her campaign posted details about Zeldin’s event

The man who attacked US Rep. Lee Zeldin at a New York campaign rally on Thursday was arrested and charged with attempted assault – hours before walking free without bail.

David Jakubonis, 43, of Fairport, confronted the Republican, who was giving a speech on bail reform, in Perinton, New York, a small town outside Rochester, as part of his ‘United to Fire Hochul’ campaign.

Jakubonis, thought to be an Iraq war veteran, was drunk when he screamed at Zeldin: ‘OK, you’re done,’ right before launching his attack, according to WHEC-TV.

The veteran was arrested and charged with attempted assault in the second degree. He was released within hours, just as Zeldin predicted he would.

‘The attacker is in custody,’ Zeldin wrote on Instagram after the June 21 attack. ‘This suspect will likely be back on the street immediately.

Zeldin’s prediction was a clear reference to New York’s shoddy bail reform laws, which doesn’t require cash bail for most misdemeanors and non-violent felony charges, allowing criminals who haven’t been convicted of a crime to go free.

The state Senate claims the reform has led to fewer people behind bars and has contributed to increased crime.