Man accused of attacking New York Rep. Lee Zeldin faces federal charge

The man accused of making an attempt to stab U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin at a marketing campaign occasion in New York this week is now dealing with a federal assault charge. 

David G. Jakubonis, 43, of Fairport, N.Y., was arrested Saturday and charged with assaulting a member of Congress utilizing a harmful weapon. The federal charge got here simply hours after being launched on his personal recognizance after his arraignment on a separate state charge of tried assault in Perinton Town Court. 

The new federal charge carries a most penalty of 10 years in federal jail if Jakubonis is convicted.

Jakubonis is accused of strolling as much as a flatbed trailer the place Zeldin, a Republican who’s working for New York governor, was talking Thursday night. Authorities stated he jumped up onto the trailer whereas holding a keychain with two sharp factors, and grabbed Zeldin, shouting, “You’re done!” as the 2 struggled. 

According to the federal criticism, Jakubonis informed police that he drank whiskey that day. He stated “that he did not know who the speaker was or that the speaker was a political person,” the criticism states.

He informed authorities “he ‘must have checked out,'” the criticism notes.

Earlier Saturday, legislation enforcement sources informed CBS News that, on the evening of the assault, Jakubonis exhibited indicators of intoxication when he was taken into custody by Monroe County Sheriff’s deputies, and informed authorities he had been ingesting. The decide issued a stay-away order of safety. A search warrant of Jakubonis’ residence turned up no weapons or different weapons.

The state charge of tried assault within the second diploma is a felony and doesn’t qualify for bail to be set below New York state bail reform legal guidelines, a legislation enforcement official stated.

Jakubonis made his preliminary look in federal courtroom in Rochester, and he stays in custody till his subsequent federal courtroom listening to scheduled for July 27. He can also be due again in state courtroom on the tried assault charge Aug. 30. 

Pat Milton contributed to this report.