He was released on his own recognizance from the jail for assaulting Lee Zeldin, a New York Republican.
New York Republicans are fuming over the release from jail of a man who assaulted their gubernatorial candidate during a speech, saying the case illustrates the state’s increasing disregard for public safety under Democratic Party leadership.
David Jakubonis was arrested for attempted assault in second degree. He was released without any bail and taken to jail. The 43-year old US Army veteran was charged with attempted assault in the second degree and released from jail on Friday. He tried to stab or slash Lee Zeldin, Republican candidate for New York governor, using a double-pointed gun.
“It is terrible public policy that in the state of New York, you can try to stab a sitting member of Congress – or anyone else for that matter – and be back out on the street not even six hours later,”Katie Vincentz spokeswoman at Zeldin “There is not enough accountability for people when they commit crimes, and this is just one of the many examples we hear all about in New York every single day.”
Video footage of the incident, which took place on Thursday night near Rochester, showed Zeldin grabbing the man’s arm as he raised the weapon toward his neck. Jakubonis was pulled to the ground as several men came to Zeldin’s aid. After Jakubonis’ arrest, the Republican candidate finished his speech and is now running against Kathy Hochul (a Democrat).
Apparently, because the attacker didn’t succeed at stabbing Zeldin, the assault was categorized as a nonviolent offense under New York law. The state passed legislation in 2020 that prohibited judges from making defendants pay bail for such cases. They must therefore be allowed to leave jail in anticipation of trial.
“Only in Kathy Hochul’s New York could a maniac violently attack a candidate for governor and then be released without bail,”Nick Langworthy was the chairman of New York’s Republican Party. “This is what happens when you destroy the criminal justice system.”
Only in @KathyHochul’s New York could a maniac violently attack a candidate for Governor and then be released without bail. You can destroy the criminal justice systems.
— Nick Langworthy (@NickLangworthy) July 22, 2022
New York City has seen an increase in crime in the last two years. This includes an increase in seemingly unprovoked attacks on pedestrians. Many of these cases involved suspects who had previously been arrested numerous times and then released on the streets. Robberies, felony assaults, and rapes have climbed further so far this year, rising by 39%, 19%, and 11%, respectively, from 2021’s pace, according to police data.
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