Lee Zeldin served as a congressman for New York prior to mounting a failed bid to turn into governor of the Empire State.
President-elect Donald Trump introduced on Nov. 11 that former New York Congressman Lee Zeldin is his option to take over the Environmental Coverage Company (EPA).
He mentioned he expects Zeldin to ascertain new environmental evaluation and upkeep requirements that let the US to develop in a “wholesome and well-structured manner.”
Listed here are 5 issues to understand in regards to the incoming management’s newest pick out:
State, Federal Lawmaker
Zeldin’s political carrier started in 2010 when he was once elected to the New York Senate. He served on the state stage till 2014 and was once then elected to Congress, representing New York’s First Congressional District. He served in that function from 2015 to 2023.
Whilst he was once in Washington, Zeldin served at the Space Overseas Affairs Committee and the Space Monetary Services and products Committee. He was once additionally certainly one of two Jewish Republicans in Congress and co-chaired the Space Republican Israel Caucus.
“He was once a vocal suggest on overseas coverage, border safety, army affairs, preventing antisemitism, environmental problems, power coverage, and a lot more,” Trump mentioned in his announcement. ”For his district, he championed huge infrastructure and analysis tasks, together with the preservation of Plum Island, Military Corps of Engineers tasks, and a $2 billion Electron-Ion Collider for Brookhaven Nationwide Lab.”
Zeldin was once a staunch defender of Trump when Space Democrats tried to question him. He was once certainly one of 8 Space Republicans who served on Trump’s impeachment crew right through his first impeachment trial in 2020, a bunch that ran along the president’s felony protection crew.
He was once additionally probably the most congressmen who voted towards certifying the 2020 election.
Misplaced New York Governorship
Zeldin returned to his house state in 2022, profitable the GOP’s gubernatorial nomination. Trump and different high-profile Republicans corresponding to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis recommended him.
He challenged then-interim Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, who stepped into the function after Andrew Cuomo resigned after going through an impeachment inquiry and trial.
A key center of attention of his marketing campaign was once at the crime charges in New York Town and surrounding spaces, which he mentioned have been a results of Hochul’s insurance policies, in particular the state’s bail reform regulations.
Regardless of profitable just about 50 of New York’s 62 counties, Zeldin’s marketing campaign fell brief, and he conceded on Nov. 11, 2022.
Registered Democratic citizens have outnumbered registered Republicans in New York state since 1994.
Just about one month after his defeat, Zeldin recommended then-Republican Nationwide Committee Chair Rona McDaniel to step down however selected to not bid for the seat himself.
Photographs Fired
In October 2022, whilst Zeldin was once difficult Hochul for the location of New York governor, pictures have been fired close to his house.
The then-gubernatorial candidate mentioned two other folks have been shot mendacity beneath his entrance porch and in within sight trees.
Government with Suffolk County Police mentioned in a while after the capturing that it was once now not connected to Zeldin or his circle of relatives. Zeldin and his spouse weren’t house on the time.
The capturing adopted a prior incident during which Zeldin was once accosted on level right through a marketing campaign rally close to Rochester, New York, in July 2022. A 44-year-old Military veteran, David Jakubonis, later pleaded to blame to a misdemeanor price of assaulting a federal officer.
His legal professionals mentioned that Jakubonis was once inebriated and seeking to get to the microphone.
Military Veteran
Sooner than serving in executive, Zeldin served within the U.S. Military, spending 4 years in lively responsibility in a lot of capacities, together with as an army intelligence officer, prosecutor, and army Justice of the Peace. He was once deployed to Iraq with an infantry battalion with the 82nd Airborne Department right through Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2006.
He continues to serve within the Military Reserves as a lieutenant colonel.
Most cancers Survivor
Zeldin joins the second one Trump management as a most cancers survivor. He introduced in September 2021 that he have been recognized with early-stage persistent myeloid leukemia the former November, and was once now in remission.
“Over the past 9 months, I’ve accomplished entire remission, am anticipated to are living a typical existence, and my physician says I these days don’t have any proof of this illness in my gadget,” Zeldin mentioned in a remark launched via his congressional place of work.
The previous congressman mentioned the remedies didn’t impact his paintings in Washington or his tasks with the Military Reserves.
Dr. Jeffrey Vacirca, Zeldin’s hematologist, mentioned the congressman “replied extremely properly” to focused remedy and “has accomplished entire remission.”
Jack Phillips, Zachary Steiber, and The Related Press contributed to this file.