Man Who Attacked Rep. Zeldin at Campaign Stop Pleads Guilty

A guilty plea in U.S. District Court Wednesday from the Fairport man accused of attacking Congressman Lee Zeldin during a campaign stop near Rochester in July of 2022.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean C. Eldridge, who is handling the case, stated that on July 21, 2022, during a campaign event in Perinton, Congressman Lee Zeldin gave a speech from the bed of a flatbed trailer. During the speech, 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 44-year-old Fairport man pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marian Paysan to assaulting a federal officer, which carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine when sentenced in December.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, 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 Brian Ratajczak, the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith and the Brighton Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Catholdi.