Lee Zeldin attack: Twitter users stunned that suspect was immediately released under New York bail laws

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McCarthy on Zeldin attacker release: Soft-on-crime laws work for the criminal, against New Yorkers

Former U.S. attorney Andy McCarthy reacts to the assault of Rep. Lee Zeldin at an event Thursday evening and criticizes New York laws for letting the attacker go.

Twitter users were stunned when a man who allegedly attacked Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., with a sharp object at a campaign stop Thursday was charged with a felony and released from custody within hours of his arrest.

The suspect, identified as David G. Jakubonis, 43 of Fairport, N.Y., was charged with attempted assault in the second degree and arraigned in Perinton Town Court but swiftly released on his own recognizance, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department said. 

Zeldin, the Republican candidate for governor in New York, predicted the alleged attacker would be released but many others couldn’t believe the news that Jakubonis is back on the streets.

Congressman Lee Zeldin stands on stage during his stump speech in Fairport, New York, United States, July 21, 2022. (Ian Winner/Handout via REUTERS)  (Ian Winner/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS- THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. REFILE - CORRECTING MOMENT PICTURE WAS TAKEN)

LEE ZELDIN, NEW YORK GOP GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE, ATTACKED AT CAMPAIGN STOP 

"Everything wrong with the current state of the New York. A lunatic attempts to stab a gubernatorial candidate, gets arrested, only to be ‘released on his own recognizance.’ What an absolute joke," Fox News contributor Joe Concha tweeted. 

"Attempt to stab a GOP Congressman on stage, get released on your own recognizance. New York, everybody," The Spectator Editor-at-Large Ben Domenech wrote. 

"So New York’s bail law allows you to attack a political candidate with a knife and be released on your own recognizance within hours? Maybe there should be a carve out for would-be assassins," New York Councilman Joe Borelli wrote. "Wow."

Former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, R., added, "This is one of the best arguments for making Lee Zeldin the next Governor of New York."

MAN WHO TACKLED LEE ZELDIN ATTACKER 'ENRAGED' THAT SUSPECT WAS IMMEDIATELY RELEASED UNDER NY BAIL LAWS

Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., was attacked during a gubernatorial campaign stop in Perinton, New York on Thursday night where an individual allegedly pulled out a sharp object. (Ian Winner)

Zeldin was giving a speech about bail reform at a Veterans of Foreign Wars post when the assault happened. Jakubonis was tackled by AMVETS national Director Joe Chenelly, according to witnesses. 

"His right hand came up, I assume out of his pocket, and he had a blade on his hand," Chenelly told Fox News Digital. "His fingers were like two finger holes in the blade and lunged at the congressman. And Congressman Zeldin blocked the first lunge. And then as he tried to lunge again, I grabbed him from behind and tackled him down to the ground and held him on the ground." 

ALLEGED LEE ZELDIN ATTEMPTED ATTACKER CHARGED WITH FELONY, IMMEDIATELY RELEASED JUST AS CONGRESSMAN PREDICTED

Zeldin's campaign shared an image with Fox News Digital which appears to show the blade that was used by the alleged attacker, who is being restrained in the picture.

Zeldin's campaign shared an image with Fox News Digital which appears to show the blade that was used by the alleged attacker, who is being restrained in the picture. (Lee Zeldin Campaign)

"Trying to kill someone is just the side of a speeding ticket in New York now," radio host Derek Hunter tweeted.

Many others took to Twitter with thoughts on Jakubonis being released: 

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Fox News’ Brie Stimson and Adam Sabes contributed to this report.