The U.S. Attorney for Western NY, Trini E. Ross announced on July 23 that David G. Jakubonis, 43, of Fairport, NY, was arrested and charged with assaulting a member of Congress using a dangerous weapon. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett A. Harvey, who is handling the case, stated that on July 21, 2022, New York Congressman Lee Zeldin, a Republican candidate for Governor of New York, attended a gubernatorial campaign event in Perinton, NY. During the event, Congressman Zeldin was speaking from the bed of a flatbed trailer. Jakubonis walked onto the trailer, approached the Congressman, extended a keychain with two sharp points toward him and grabbed his arm. A struggle then ensued between Congressman Zeldin and Jakubonis and, as bystanders intervened, Jakubonis pulled Congressman Zeldin down onto the bed of the trailer, stating several times during the assault, “you’re done.” Jakubonis was subdued and arrested.
The defendant made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marion W. Payson and is being held pending a detention hearing on July 27, 2022, at 10:30 a.m.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia, the U.S. Capitol Police, under the direction of Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge Chad Beckett, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Barry Chase, the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith and the Brighton Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Catholdi.
The federal arrest of Jakubonis comes after he was arrested by Monroe County officials but released in Monroe County court based on the new cashless bail laws in New York State. “I’m thankful that federal authorities came in to do what New York State’s broken pro-criminal justice system could not – uphold the rule of law. The state must start prioritizing the safety of law-abiding New Yorkers over criminals. Cashless bail must be repealed and judges should have discretion to set cash bail on far more offenses,” said Zeldin, who used his military experience to hold off Jakubonis until others at the event could take him down.
Jakubonis could be released as early at July 28, the date of his next hearing in Federal court.
