US congressman attacked during NY state stump speech

Congressman Lee Zeldin stands on stage during his stump speech, before an alleged attack on him, in Fairport, New York, United States, July 21, 2022. Ian Winner/Handout via REUTERS

A man climbed on stage and attempted to stab a US congressman on Thursday as the lawmaker delivered a stump speech in his run for New York governor, his campaign said, but the candidate was unharmed.

Video footage posted on social media by witnesses showed an unidentified man wearing a black baseball cap quickly approaching Congressman Lee Zeldin from the side of the stage at a rally in upstate New York holding a pointed weapon or implement of some kind.

The man can be heard telling Zeldin “you’re done” repeatedly as he extends his arm toward the Republican candidate’s face or neck. Zeldin pushed him away before both men tumbled to the ground as several others tried to subdue the suspect.

A spokeswoman for Zeldin’s campaign, Katie Vincentz, said on Twitter that the suspect had attempted to stab the congressman. Vincentz said Zeldin and members of his team were unharmed.

“Zeldin grabbed the attacker’s wrist to stop him until others assisted in taking the attacker to the ground. Law enforcement took the man into custody,” Vincentz said.

She said Zeldin finished his speech following the incident and thanked law enforcement officers who responded to the attack.

Local police could not immediately be reached for comment on the incident.

“Relieved to hear that Congressman Zeldin was not injured and that the suspect is in custody,” incumbent New York Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat and Zeldin’s opponent in the race, said on Twitter.

“I condemn this violent behavior in the strongest terms possible – it has no place in New York,” Hochul said.

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