Lee Zeldin, Republican candidate for Governor of New York, has been attacked at a campaign event. The congressman was giving a speech in Monroe County (Perinton) when he was attacked by a gunman.
During a rally for veterans of foreign wars, an individual approached Zeldin with a sharp object and attempted to assault him. After a melee, the alleged attacker was reduced and the candidate returned to the stage to finish his speech.
Katie Vincentz, Zeldin's campaign spokesperson, has indicated that the gubernatorial candidate and lieutenant governor candidate, Alison Esposito, are safe after the attack. The campaign is calling for a stop to this spiral of violence in New York State. This has to stop! they say.
Far more must be done to make NY safe again. This is out of hand. Rep. Zeldin is just the latest NY whose life has been affected by the out of control crime & violence in NY. This must stop! Thankfully, we still have exceptional officers answering the call to protect us.
— Katie Vincentz (@katievincentz) July 22, 2022
Democrats 'warmed up' to Zeldin visit
The governor of New York, Democrat Kathy Hochul, said she condemned the incident "in the strongest possible terms". However, it was she herself who 'warmed up' the reception for Zeldin with the typical 'extreme right-wing' adjectives while sharing the candidate's agenda in the area where he was attacked.
My team has informed me about the incident at Lee Zeldin's campaign event tonight. Relieved to hear that Congressman Zeldin was not injured and that the suspect is in custody. I condemn this violent behavior in the strongest terms possible — it has no place in New York.
— Kathy Hochul (@KathyHochul) July 22, 2022
You sent your supporters after him. And they came. https://t.co/hoTKsqcPxe pic.twitter.com/K7Z1VptMTk
— Arthur Schwartz (@ArthurSchwartz) July 22, 2022
"You sent your supporters after him. And they came," sentences Arthur Schwartz.
The assailant is in custody. Lee Zeldin himself has shown his gratitude to law enforcement and to all those who helped him reduce the assailant.
Thank you to all who reached out following tonight’s attack. Grateful I was able to grab onto his wrist in time when he lunged for my neck. Grateful many individuals on site quickly jumped in & tackled him. Grateful for the local law enforcement who apprehended the attacker.🙏
— Lee Zeldin (@RepLeeZeldin) July 22, 2022
The gubernatorial candidate takes the opportunity to make a reflection: "Political accounts should be resolved at the ballot box, not on the stage of campaign events trying to violently attack candidates with whom one does not agree" he denounces.
