Fact Check: "Rep. Max Miller claims he was threatened by a man waving a Palestinian flag."
What We Know
On June 19, 2025, Rep. Max Miller, a Republican from Ohio, reported an incident where he claimed he was threatened by a man waving a Palestinian flag while driving on Interstate 90 in Rocky River, Ohio. According to Miller, the assailant tailgated his vehicle and made threats against him and his family, including antisemitic slurs. Miller stated in a social media post that he was "run off the road" and that the suspect had made specific threats to "cut [his] throat and [his] daughter's" while displaying the flag. He subsequently filed a police report with both local authorities and Capitol Police, indicating the seriousness of the threat he perceived (NBC News).
The alleged assailant, identified as Feras Hamdan, turned himself in to the Rocky River Police Department after a warrant was issued for his arrest. He faces charges of aggravated menacing and ethnic intimidation (Reuters). The incident has been characterized as part of a troubling trend of political violence, which has raised concerns among lawmakers (Politico).
Analysis
The claims made by Rep. Miller are substantiated by multiple sources, including police reports and a 911 call he made during the incident. In the 911 call, Miller can be heard describing the confrontation in detail, mentioning the threats made against him and his daughter (NBC News). The police report corroborates Miller's account, stating that he was indeed threatened and that the suspect displayed a Palestinian flag during the incident.
However, the suspect's attorney has publicly disputed Miller's account, labeling the allegations as "baseless and outrageous" and suggesting that Miller is using the incident for political gain (NBC News). This introduces a layer of complexity to the narrative, as it raises questions about the motivations behind the claims and the potential for political exploitation of such incidents.
The reliability of the sources reporting on this incident is generally high, as they include established news organizations and official police statements. However, the narrative may be influenced by the political affiliations of those involved, which could introduce bias in how the story is framed.
Conclusion
Based on the evidence presented, the claim that Rep. Max Miller was threatened by a man waving a Palestinian flag is True. The incident is supported by Miller's own 911 call, police reports, and the subsequent arrest of the suspect. While there are conflicting statements from the suspect's attorney, the core details of Miller's account have been corroborated by law enforcement and multiple news sources.
Sources
- Ohio man charged for allegedly threatening US congressman Max Miller. Reuters
- Congressman Max Miller said he was run off the road by driver waving a Palestinian flag. ABC News
- Suspect arrested after GOP Rep. Max Miller says he was 'run off the road' by a man waving a Palestinian flag. NBC News
- GOP lawmaker says he was 'run off the road' by man with Palestinian flag. Politico
