Rep. Representative running for NY governor Lee Zeldin attacked
2 Min Read
Lee Zeldin, a Republican representative running for NY governor in November's elections, was giving a speech when a man with a knife got on stage and attacked him.
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Republican Representative Lee Zeldin attacked during campaign speech
US Republican Representative Lee Zeldin, candidate for New York governor who is running against Democratic Kathy Hochul, was attacked, on Thursday, by a man who allegedly tried to stab him at an event upstate event.
During his speech, a guy seemed to climb on stage and start grappling with Zeldin while he was making a speech, according to Katie Vincentz, a campaign spokeswoman for Zeldin.
As other people attempt to step in, the man can be seen grabbing Zeldin's arm in a video of the incident that was shared on Twitter before the two collapse to the ground.
According to Zeldin's team, the assailant was apprehended and the congressman resumed his speech.
Political scores should be settled at the ballot box, not on stage at campaign events trying to violently attack candidates you disagree with. This is not ok. This is the United States of America. This is the greatest country in the history of the world. 🇺🇸
— Lee Zeldin (@RepLeeZeldin) July 22, 2022
Nick Langworthy, the leader of the New York Republican Party, told the Associated Press that he had no information about the assailant or his weapon but had texted Zeldin while the congressman was speaking to police afterward.
“He is fine. He’s not seriously injured. It’s just a chaotic scene there,” Langworthy said.
Zeldin suffered a "small scrape", according to Langworthy, but it wasn't an actual injury, however, he is requesting that Hochul provide Zeldin a security detail to keep him safe while campaigning.
“This could have gone a lot worse. This could have really ended in a horrible way tonight and this is unacceptable,” he said.
There was an assassination attempt on @leezeldin today.
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) July 22, 2022
Absolutely crazy.
Thank God he is ok.pic.twitter.com/uGJywqKs7f
Hochul, in a statement, condemned the attack and said she was “relieved to hear that Congressman Zeldin was not injured and that the suspect is in custody."
Zeldin, a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve who has served as the representative for eastern Long Island in Congress since 2015, is a steadfast supporter of Donald Trump and was one of the Republicans who voted against declaring Democrat Joe Biden the winner of the 2020 election.
Read more: New York bans guns in various public places
