Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) said Thursday he contacted the Capitol Police after being “run off the road” by a man displaying a Palestinian flag while he was driving in his congressional district.
Miller said in an accompanying video that the man initially “decided to lay on his horn,” but then ran him off the road “when he couldn’t get my attention.”
State of play: Miller claimed to know the identity of the alleged assailant, though he didn’t name them in the video.
What they’re saying: House Democratic leadership, in a joint statement, re-upped their call to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.)
“We condemn in the strongest possible terms the attack on Congressman Max Miller and his family and are thankful they are safe,” said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.)
Rep. While driving in his congressional district on Thursday, Max Miller (R-Ohio) claimed he was “run off the road” by a man holding a Palestinian flag and called the Capitol Police.
Why it matters The alleged incident occurs while lawmakers are still in shock over the shooting last weekend of two state legislators and their spouses in Minnesota, which left one couple dead and another hospitalized.
Both party members of Congress are now more concerned about their personal safety as a result of the attack and are calling for increased Capitol Police protection.
“Today I was run off the road .,” was the headline. and a person threatened my family’s and my life by waving a Palestinian flag before taking off,” Miller wrote in a social media post.
The man first “decided to lay on his horn,” but Miller expelled him from the road “when he couldn’t get my attention,” according to a video that goes with the statement. He added that the man shouted “death to Israel.”.
In 2023, Miller, who is Jewish and pro-Israel, told Axios that he carries a weapon for self-defense and has been vocal about his fears of antisemitic violence since the start of the war in Gaza.
Situation: Although he did not identify the alleged attacker in the video, Miller stated that he knew who they were.
“We are fully aware of your identity, dot. He posted that he had reported the incident to the Capitol Police, saying in the video, “and the police are going to pay you a visit.”.
When Axios reached out to Capitol Police for comment, a representative did not immediately reply.
What they’re saying: House Democratic leadership reiterated their call to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La) in a joint statement. ) to set aside more money for members’ safety following the shootings in Minnesota.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N) stated, “We are grateful that Congressman Max Miller and his family are safe and condemn the attack in the strongest terms possible.”. Y. Katherine Clark, the Minority Whip (D-Mass. and Pete Aguilar, the Democratic caucus chair (D-Calif. ).
“The increase in political violence in this nation is intolerable,” they added. “In this emergency, Congress must take swift action to guarantee the security of each and every Member. “.
A request for comment was not immediately answered by a Johnson representative.
