An Ohio doctor was arrested after a congressman claimed he forced him off the road while chanting ‘death to Israel.’
Feras Hamdan, 36, from Avon, surrendered to authorities after an apparent altercation on Thursday morning when Republican Max Miller was traveling on I-90.
Miller contacted 911 reporting that while on his way to work, a person honked at him, forcing him off the road and displaying the flag of Palestine.
The incident escalated with Miller, who is Jewish, stating that the individual yelled ‘death to Israel,’ and issued threats to harm him and his family. Hamdan works as a doctor in a private clinic.
Hamdan appeared in court on Friday were he pleaded not guilty to a charge of aggravated menacing and ethnic intimidation.
According to Cleveland19 he received a $500,000 cash-assured bond during the arraignment inside Rocky River Municipal Court.
The outlet reported that Hamdan was also ordered to surrender his passport and to avoid contacting Miller and his family. He is expected back in court next month.
Feras Hamdan, 36, of Avon, turned himself in following the alleged incident on Thursday morning while Republican Max Miller was driving on I-90
Miller, who is Jewish, also claims that the man shouted ‘death to Israel’ and threatened to kill him and his family, he is seen here in a video to his X explaining what happened to him
Miller said in a post to his X account on Thursday that he was run off the road by what he described as an ‘unhinged, deranged man’ in another vehicle.
The lawmaker said he is a ‘staunch defender of Israel’ in his post, and that the driver had been waving a Palestinian flag at him.
He added: ‘Not to mention, death to Israel, death to me, that he wanted to kill me and my family.
‘I will continue to fight against anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and all other forms of hate.
‘You have an issue, take it to my office. You want to run me off the road, that’s a different story.’
In the 911 call, obtained by CNN, Miller said: ‘I’m on the freeway. I have somebody who has cut me off, who is flipping me off, who is showing me a Palestinian flag and is yelling to kill me.
‘I’m a little shaken at the moment because I got death threats’, he continued as he read out the license plate of the vehicle.
After his call was transferred to another police department, he added: ‘I was just driving to work and I was cut off by a man in a Tesla who held up a Palestinian flag to me and then rolled down his window and said that “I’m going to cut your throat and your daughter’s.”
Hamdan was ordered to surrender his passport and to avoid contacting Miller and his family. He is expected back in court next month
Hamdan appeared in court on Friday were he pleaded not guilty to a charge of aggravated menacing and ethnic intimidation
Miller speaks during an event hosted by Trump, at the county fairgrounds in Delaware, Ohio, U.S., April 23, 2022
‘And he said “you’re a dirty Jew. I’m going to f**king kill you all, and I know who you are and where you live.”‘
‘I have a weapon on me. I’m glad I didn’t use it. But, I mean, what is going to happen? This guy just said he is going to kill me.
‘And said he is going to kill my daughter who is almost two years old. And he cut me off and clearly was trying to hurt me.’
House Speaker Mike Johnson condemned the incident, writing on X: ‘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. We must turn down the temperature in this country.’
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar said in a joint statement: ‘We condemn in the strongest possible terms the attack on Congressman Max Miller and his family and are thankful they are safe.
‘The rise in political violence in this country is unacceptable. This is a moment of crisis that requires Congress to act decisively in order to ensure the safety of every single Member who serves in the People’s House.’
It comes after heightened concerns for lawmakers and public officials after Rep. Melissa Hortman was murdered last week alongside her husband Mark.
Authorities say Trump supporter Vance Boelter, 57, is responsible for the killings, he was arrested late on Sunday night following an extensive manhunt.
