Courtesy of JNS. Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons
Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) speaks with attendees at the Republican Jewish Coalition’s 2023 Annual Leadership Summit at the Venetian Convention & Expo Center in Las Vegas, Nev., on Oct. 28, 2023
(JNS) — Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio), one of four Jewish House Republicans, said on Thursday that he was “run off the road” in Rocky River, Ohio, by a “deranged man,” who waved a Palestinian flag at him and threatened the congressman and his family.
Miller, who has told JNS that he aims to be the “loudest Republican Jewish voice for our people,” posted about the incident on social media.
“As I was driving to work, some unhinged, deranged man decided to lay on his horn and run me off the road, when he couldn’t get my attention, to show me a Palestinian flag, not to mention death to Israel, death to me — that he wanted to kill me and my family,” Miller said.
“I will not hide in the face of this blatant antisemitic violence,” Miller stated.
Miller said that he submitted reports to both local police and U.S. Capitol Police, which protects members of Congress, in Washington.
The Rocky River Police Department told JNS on Thursday evening that Miller came in that day to give a statement and that a police officer was finishing the report. As of Friday morning, the department still wasn’t prepared to release a report.
“For safety reasons, we do not comment on potential investigations,” Capitol Police told JNS.
Miller did not offer details of the death threats made by the driver, whose identity he said he knows. It wasn’t clear if he knew the individual personally or discovered the driver’s identity via other methods, such as a license plate. (JNS sought comment from the congressman.)
“We know who you are, young man, and the police are going to be paying you a visit,” Miller said. “I hope what you did this morning is worth it to you and anyone else who plans on doing this to anybody within our district, state or country.”
“You have an issue? Take it to our office,” he said. “You want to run me off the road? That’s a different story.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) stated that “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,” Johnson said. “The U.S. Capitol Police is engaged with local law enforcement to help handle this case and ensure justice is served.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) released a joint statement decrying the incident.
“We condemn in the strongest possible terms the attack on Congressman Max Miller and his family and are thankful they are safe,” the trio wrote. “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,” they added.
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), Rep. Pat Harrigan (R-N.C.), Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.) and Rep. Randy Fine (R-Fla.) were among the other members of Congress who expressed concern about the incident.
