By A Cleveland-area physician was arrested this week after allegedly threatening to kill Republican Congressman Max Miller and his two-year-old daughter in what authorities describe as a politically charged, antisemitic road rage incident on Interstate 90.
Feras Hamdan, 36, of Avon, turned himself in to Rocky River police on June 20, five days after the alleged confrontation, which occurred near Cleveland. Miller—who represents Ohio’s 7th Congressional District and is one of the few Jewish Republicans in Congress—said Hamdan forced his car off the highway, displayed a Palestinian flag, and shouted “death to Israel,” along with personal threats against his family.
Miller’s wife and daughter were in the vehicle at the time. “He cut me off, showed me a Palestinian flag, and said he’s going to kill me and my daughter,” Miller told a 911 dispatcher. He also confirmed he was carrying a firearm but made the decision not to draw it. “I am a little shaken,” he said on the call, according to local reports.
Hamdan is charged with aggravated menacing and ethnic intimidation. He pleaded not guilty to the charges on Friday. It’s possible he will face additional charges.
“I don’t have to tell you last week, where we had two Minnesota senators were murdered, these are very serious charges, we’re talking about a sitting United States Congressman,” Judge Joseph Burke said. “These are real serious allegations here, and it’s not going to happen on my watch.”
He received a $500,000 bond during his arraignment in Rocky River Municipal Court Friday.
The judge ruled Hamdan must surrender his passport and is not to contact Miller or his family.
He is due back in court on July 8.
The deranged hatred in this country has gotten out of control. Today I was run off the road in Rocky River, and the life of me and my family was threatened by a person who proceeded to show a Palestinian flag before taking off. I have filed a police report with Capitol Police and… pic.twitter.com/H6JnupcRIA
— Max Miller (@MaxMillerOH) June 19, 2025
Authorities say Hamdan’s actions appeared deliberate, though they have not publicly speculated on motive, though there’s plenty of commentators putting two and two together. The case is now under investigation by a coalition of agencies, including the FBI, Ohio State Highway Patrol, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio, and the U.S. Capitol Police.
This isn’t the first time that Miller has been attacked by “Free Palestine” activists. In December 2023, he told The Washington Free Beacon. “We’re just having a casual conversation, and out of nowhere, this guy beelines up to me visibly shaking—he’s very upset in my presence because he’s a snowflake,” Miller told the Free Beacon.” And he just comes right back up to me and was like, ‘Free Palestine.’ And I was like, ‘Okay.’ … I’m not going to give him a reaction because that’s what he wants.”
The incident has drawn condemnation from leaders of both parties.
“What happened to Max this morning is yet another outrageous example of unhinged rhetoric inspiring unstable people to threaten and attack elected officials who are serving their communities,” wrote Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson on Thursday. “We must turn down the temperature in this country.”
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries also denounced the attack on Miller, calling on Congress to take action in response to this “moment of crisis” to “ensure the safety of every single Member who serves in the People’s House.”
Hamdan’s attorney, Issa Elkhatib, has rejected the allegations, calling them politically motivated.
“The allegations against my client, Dr. Feras Hamdan, are not only baseless and outrageous, but they also amount to defamatory attacks on his character and reputation. Dr. Hamdan is a respected physician, a devoted husband, a loving father, and an upstanding member of his community. He has no prior criminal history and has dedicated his life to serving others with integrity and compassion.
“It is reprehensible that Congressman Max Miller would exploit Dr. Hamdan’s good name as a political pawn to score political points and fabricate a narrative of false victimhood.”
Miller, a former Trump aide and staunch supporter of Israel, responded bluntly: “I will not hide in the face of this blatant antisemitic violence.”
The arrest comes amid rising political tensions nationwide, as lawmakers across the ideological spectrum report growing threats and security concerns. Research has shown that liberals have become more and more comfortable with violence and assassinations.
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