Doctor threatens congressman in road rage incident

In a troubling incident of road rage entangled with antisemitism, an Ohio congressman reported a serious threat against him while traveling on Interstate 90 near Cleveland. Republican U.S. Representative Max Miller, who is Jewish, faced harassment from another driver identified as Feras S. Hamdan, a 36-year-old doctor from Westlake. The altercation occurred earlier this week and escalated to the point where Miller felt endangered, prompting him to call 911 during his drive to work. Hamdan was accused of aggressively maneuvering his black Tesla, displaying a Palestinian flag, and making profane gestures while shouting threats, including death threats toward Miller and his daughter. Hamdan subsequently turned himself in to the police with a lawyer present, leading to his arrest on charges of aggravated menacing and menacing with an ethnic intimidation specification. The case is particularly disturbing given its context, as it follows recent incidents of political violence, including attacks on elected officials in other states. The judge overseeing Hamdan's case emphasized the seriousness of violence against public figures and set a hefty bond of $500,000. Miller, who served as a former Marine, described the encounter in a video shared on social media where he recounted being run off the road by Hamdan, who repeatedly laid on his horn. He remarked on the dangers presented to his daughter, who thankfully was not with him during the confrontation. The Ohio Jewish Caucus has publicly condemned the threats, stating that there should be zero tolerance for violence motivated by ideology, be it political or antisemitic in nature. This incident has raised alarms about the escalation of hostility in political discourse and the safety of elected representatives and their families. The response from law enforcement has included a collaborative effort with federal authorities such as the FBI and Capitol Police, indicating the seriousness of the situation and the potential implications for public safety. With calls for an investigation into Hamdan's professional conduct, there is a growing concern about the doctor's ability to provide care in a community he may have shown a bias against, further complicating the consequences of this episode.