Investigators: Attacker ‘Did Not Know Who’ Zeldin Was

In this image taken from video, David Jakubonis (C) is taken into custody by Monroe County Sheriff deputies after he brandished a sharp object during an attack on Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.), as the Republican candidate for New York governor delivered a speech in Perinton, N.Y., on July 21, 2022. WHEC-TV via AP

A man accused of attacking New York GOP gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin 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.

David Jakubonis, 43, made an initial court appearance Saturday before a federal magistrate judge in Rochester, New York, 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.