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The New York Times was torn this week after it launched a ‘conspiracy theory’ that the suspect in the attack on Rep. Lee Zeldin, RN.Y., was quickly released as some sort of political ‘ploy’ in an article that has a newspaper rival questioning the Gray Lady’s motives.
David Jakubonis, 43, of Fairport, New York, was charged with attempted second degree assault at the state level, but was soon released on his own recognizance – just as Zeldin predicted. Jakubonis was later arrested on a federal assault charge.
The Times published a conspiratorial article on Tuesday titled “How Man Accused of Assaulting Lee Zeldin Won Free Without Bail?” The article had a caption stating: ‘The decision to release the suspect was seen by some Democrats as a ploy to fuel Mr. Zeldin’s anti-crime campaign as he runs for Governor of New York .”
David Jakubonis, 43, of Fairport, New York, was charged with attempted second degree assault at the state level, but was soon released on his own recognizance – just as Lee Zeldin predicted.
(Department of Justice)
LEE ZELDIN’S ATTEMPT ATTACK TOLD INVESTIGATORS HE ‘DIDN’T KNOW’ IDENTITY OF SPEAKER
Times criminal justice reporter Jonah E. Bromwich and investigative reporter Jay Root co-wrote the piece which highlighted how “Jakubonis’ release without bail illustrates the problems with bail law” that the candidate Republican tough on crime for New York governor spoke out against.
“Almost immediately, the involvement of Mr. Zeldin’s political allies sparked questions about the incident. Many Democrats seized on the candidate’s relationship with Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley, who, no more As late as this week, Mr. Zeldin’s website was listed as co-chair of the campaign.They noted that the sheriff who filed charges against Mr. Jakubonis, Todd K. Baxter of Monroe County, was also a outspoken opponent of the bail law,” the Times reporters wrote. “And finally, they wondered why Mr. Jakubonis had been charged with attempted second-degree assault, a charge that is not eligible for bail, virtually guaranteeing he would be released as Mr. Zeldin predicted.”
Reporters then cited two New York Democrats – State Assemblyman Demond Meeks and Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles D. Lavine – who suspect foul play, with one going so far as to claim that it was “definitely a political ploy” by the Zeldin team.
The New York Times this week floated a theory suggesting that the suspect in the attack on Rep. Lee Zeldin, RN.Y., was quickly released as a “political ploy.”
LEE ZELDIN ATTACK SUSPECT ARRESTED ON FEDERAL ASSAULT CHARGE
The Times reporters then admitted that there was no evidence to support the theory buried in the eighth paragraph of the story.
“No evidence has emerged to indicate that the prosecution was chosen to secure the release of Mr. Jakubonis, serving to amplify Mr. Zeldin’s campaign message. Several Monroe County criminal attorneys have said the prosecution was appropriate given the details of the July 21 attack.” they wrote.
It started last week when Zeldin was giving a speech at a Veterans of Foreign Wars station and Jakubonis confronted him on stage holding a black hardened plastic key chain with two sharp points designed for self-defense. Zeldin managed to fend off the suspected attacker before he was attacked by security.
GOP strategist Andrew Clark chided The Times on Twitter.
“It’s a bizarre hit track. A New York Democrat wonders without evidence if Zeldin’s attacker was released without bail as a ‘ploy’ to help Zeldin,” Clark wrote. “Turns out there’s no evidence, everyone agrees it’s standard procedure, but it can’t be PROVEN, so that’s history.”
The Zeldin campaign shared an image with Fox News Digital that appears to show the blade that was used by the alleged attacker, who is restrained in the photo.
(Lee Zeldin Campaign)
The New York Post editorial board tore up The Times with a column headlined “The Times’ Ridiculous Suggestion that Zeldin’s Attacker Was Released to Help His Campaign”, which denounces the rival newspaper.
“Leave it to the New York Times to spread a conspiracy theory that releasing Lee Zeldin’s attacker without bail was a ‘ploy’ to bolster the candidate’s ‘anti-crime’ message, even while resorting to a Trumpian some-people-are-saying-frame to push it since the paper’s own reporters found nothing to back it up,” the Post’s editorial board wrote before mocking the Gray Lady’s claim that the decision was seen by “some Democrats” as a ploy when only two Democrats were named.
“The Gray Lady further claimed that ‘many ‘Dems’ seized on” Zeldin’s ties to Doorley, whom her website listed as campaign co-chair, and that the sheriff who filed the charge was a ‘vocal opponent’ of New York’s bail law – yet she provided no names of these ‘many’ Democrats, aside from those of Meeks and Lavine,” the committee continued. writing.
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The Post noted that readers “must read, well past all the ridiculous suggestions of a plot to bolster Zeldin’s message, to see the paragraphs debunk the idea” and said the article seemed to have been suggested by the paper’s far-left makers. .
“It stinks of some Times editors ordering a hit – and insisting on publishing an article to push the charge even after reporters have done no more than idle speculation. It’s pure trap to clicks for the newspaper’s left-wing readership,” the Post editorial board wrote. “Rather than question the motives of those who brought charges against Zeldin’s attacker, readers should question the motives of the Times.”
Fox News’ Maria Paronich contributed to this report.
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