US Representative Lee Zeldin, the Republican candidate for governor of New York (USA), is “safe” after an attack at a campaign event on Thursday night (21), his spokesman said.
“Congressman Zeldin, Alison Esposito and all members of Team Zeldin are safe after tonight’s attack,” tweeted spokeswoman Katie Vincentz on Thursday.
Zeldin was giving a speech in Fairport, New York, when a man walked up on stage “and tried to stab him,” a campaign statement said. The GOP lawmaker “grabbed the assailant’s wrist to detain him until several others helped knock the assailant to the ground,” according to the statement.
The congressman returned to the stage to finish his remarks after the alleged attacker was arrested.
THE CNN contacted the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office about the incident.
Democratic New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Zeldin’s opponent in the November race, said Thursday night that she was “relieved to hear” he was not injured in the incident.
“My team briefed me on the incident at the Lee Zeldin campaign event tonight. Relieved to hear that Congressman Zeldin was not harmed and that the suspect is in custody. I condemn this violent behavior in the strongest possible terms – it has no place in New York,” wrote Hochul.
Zeldin announced his candidacy for governor last year, stating that “the light that was a beacon of what America can be has gone dark.” He won the Republican nomination last month.
The congressman was a strong supporter of former President Donald Trump during his presidency, including publicly defending him during his second impeachment trial. Zeldin also echoed Trump’s baseless allegations of fraud in the 2020 election and voted against certifying the election results.
Zeldin was first elected to Congress in 2014 after serving four years in the Senate representing New York.
Meanwhile, in the Democratic primaries, Hochul defeated New York City public attorney Jumaane Williams, whom she also beat in the 2018 lieutenant governor primaries.
Source: CNN Brasil
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