On Friday, President Joe Biden condemned the attack on Rep. Lee Zeldin, the Republican nominee for governor of New York. The president called it an attack on democracy.
“I condemn the attack on Congressman Zeldin in the strongest of terms. As I have said before, violence has absolutely no place in our society or our politics.” Biden said in a statement.
Joe Biden leads bipartisan condemnation against attack on Lee Zeldin https://t.co/kGxsGMIPVI pic.twitter.com/If0PDXO9SS
— New York Post (@nypost) July 22, 2022
He continued praising the individuals who exhibited courage, “immediately intervened,” and that Zeldin was unharmed.
Biden lauded law enforcement officers who “quickly took action” and are investigating the attack that “defies our fundamental democratic values.”
However, Biden didn’t mention the lenient handling of the perpetrator. He was charged with a felony – attempted assault in the second degree, arraigned in Perinton Town Court, and released.
Zeldin predicted that the suspect would be released and slammed New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Democrat lawmakers for their soft-on-crime leadership.
His words as he tried to stab me a few hours ago were “you’re done”, but several attendees, including @EspositoforNY, quickly jumped into action & tackled the guy.
Law enforcement was on the scene within minutes.
The attacker will likely be instantly released under NY’s laws. pic.twitter.com/wZEyIyrjFe
— Lee Zeldin (@leezeldin) July 22, 2022
Gerard Kassar, chair for the New York State Conservative Party, labeled the quick release of the attacker “a black mark for the state’s Democratic leaders.”
“Only in New York can someone attack a sitting congressman with a weapon and be back on the street within hours,” he said. “But that’s the state we live in under Governor Kathy Hochul and reckless, one-party Democrat rule.”
The chairman added that the attack could have been provoked by the governor’s campaign fanning the flames of partisan hatred against Zeldin. Kassar noted that Hochul’s campaign had allegedly issued an “angry hyperbolic dummy news advisory” steering protesters to Zeldin’s rally.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochu encouraged her supporters to confront Republican challenger Rep. Lee Zeldin on his “far-right agenda” hours before a man wielding a knife tried to attack Zeldin at a campaign stop in Fairport, New York.https://t.co/V9uEUNODJG
— Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) July 22, 2022
"You have to realize that inciteful language, that isn't protected by the Constitution." @RobCarson reacts to New York Governor Kathy Hochul's email about Congressman Lee Zeldin's schedule before he was attacked.
MORE: https://t.co/zAk1u1oruC pic.twitter.com/BGv1YaoBzP
— Newsmax (@newsmax) July 22, 2022
