Ohio man charged for allegedly threatening US Congressman Max Miller
Police in Rocky River, Ohio, said in a statement that they had arrested Feras Hamdan, 36, of Ohio, in connection to the alleged targeting on Thursday of U.S. Representative Max Miller, a Republican representing Ohio, in the suburb about 10 miles (16 km) west of downtown Cleveland. Hamdan, police said, voluntarily turned himself into police.
Hamdan was arraigned on Friday and charged with aggravated menacing and ethnic intimidation, according to Deborah Comery, the Rocky River Municipal Court clerk. Hamdan, who could face up to five months in jail, pleaded not guilty and is being held on a $500,000 bond.
Hamdan's attorney, Issa Elkhatib, said in a written statement that the allegations against Hamdan were "baseless and outrageous" and that they "amount to defamatory attacks on his character and reputation."
Elkhatib said that Hamdan was a respected local doctor who had no prior criminal history, and that he was confident "the truth will win and that Dr. Hamdan's good name will be fully vindicated."
Political violence in the U.S. has been on the increase. A man in Minnesota was arrested on suspicion of assassinating a state lawmaker and her husband last weekend, and shooting and injuring another lawmaker and his wife.
The Rocky River police statement said that Miller called 911 on Thursday morning to report that he was run off the road while traveling with his family on Interstate 90 in Ohio. The police said Miller reported an assailant yelled antisemitic slurs and waved a Palestinian flag.
"The deranged hatred in this country has gotten out of control," Miller wrote on social media.
"As a Marine, a proud Jewish American and a staunch defender of Israel, I will not hide in the face of this blatant antisemitic violence," he wrote.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
20 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Cincinnati brawl's 'main instigator' is hauled into court for 'knocking woman unconscious' before DANCING and taunting victims
The suspected 'main instigator' in the viral Cincinnati brawl has made his first appearance in court after allegedly knocking a woman unconscious. Patrick Rosemond, 38, was extradited from Georgia to southern Ohio to face a judge over his alleged involved in the brutal July 26 attack that left six people injured. Prosecutors claim Rosemond, a convicted felon, 'assaulted each and every single victim' in the beatdown, Fox News reports. He allegedly punched a woman, identified by the court only as HR, unconscious and 'almost caused her death', Hamilton County Common Pleas Court heard. Rosemond's smackdown sent the woman crumpling to the ground as the mob of assailants closed in, the prosecutions has claimed. He was then allegedly seen dancing and 'taunting' his victims after the assault. Rosemond has been charged with three counts of felonious assault, three charges of assault and two charges of aggravated rioting. He pleaded not guilty to all of the charges and was permitted release on a $500,000 bond. Six other suspects have been charged in the horrific attack. Prosecutors told the court Friday that Rosemond is 'responsible for the majority of [HR's] injuries'. 'He assaulted each and every single victim in a brutal to vicious fashion,' the prosecutor said, alleging that he knocked the woman identified as HR out. 'Her head hit the pavement, she was completely knocked unconscious before she even hit the ground. It is clearly captured on video.' The state did not confirm if HR was the female victim previously identified as Holly who alleged the mob of attackers swarmed her 'like a pack of wolves'. Horror images of Holly's injuries show her with black eyes and a swollen, bruised face. In shocking footage of the fight, a man in a white t-shirt was shoved to the ground and beaten by two men as other members of the crowd jeered and joined in. The gang beat the man for nearly a minute as he lay in the middle of the street, seemingly stepping on his head multiple times. When the barrage of attacks temporarily stopped, he was seen attempting to stand - but immediately fell over in apparent disorientation. Holly rushed to his aid, but was attacked by the crowd, suffering two blows to the face. The impact caused her to fall, with her head slamming onto the pavement. Blood spewed from her mouth. She said that police 'acted nonchalant' when they arrived at the scene and did not call for backup or an ambulance. Holly defended her actions that night, noting that she was the only person who decided to jump in to help the man because it was 'the right thing to do.' The prosecution also highlighted Rosemond's lengthy criminal record during Friday's hearing, pointing out how he has 10 misdemeanor and three felony convictions. It was also suggested that his recent trip to Georgia, during which he was arrested, was an attempt to flee - a claim disputed by the defense. Rosemond's attorney claimed he was visiting a friend and noted that he fully cooperated during his arrest. The defense requested his bond be set at $50,000 at 10 percent, but the court ruled with the prosecution's request of $500,000. Patrick Rosemond, 38, left, was arrested earlier this week and charged with alleged aggravated riot and aggravated robbery. Aisha Devaughn, right, allegedly hit one of the victims, prosecutors said Dominique Kittle, DeKyra Vernon, Jermaine Matthews, Aisha Devaughn, Gregory Wright and Montianez Merriweather were also arrested in connection with the brawl. They are facing various charges, including aggravated riot and felonious assault. If convicted they could face up to 30 years in prison. Each defendant has pleaded not guilty to their respective charges.
The Guardian
a day ago
- The Guardian
New Mexico Republican candidate gets 80 years for shootings at Democrats' homes
A failed political candidate in New Mexico has been sentenced to 80 years in federal prison for his convictions in a series of drive-by shootings at the homes of state and local lawmakers in the aftermath of the 2020 election. A jury convicted former Republican candidate Solomon Peña in March of conspiracy, weapons and other charges in the shootings in December 2022 and January 2023 on the homes of four Democratic officials in Albuquerque, including the current state house speaker. Prosecutors, who had sought a 90-year sentence, said Peña has shown no remorse and had hoped to cause political change by terrorizing people who held contrary views to him into being too afraid to take part in political life. Peña's lawyers had sought a 60-year sentence, saying their client maintains that he is innocent of the charges. They have said Peña was not involved in the shootings and that prosecutors were relying on the testimony of two men who bear responsibility and accepted plea agreements in exchange for leniency. 'Today was a necessary step toward Mr Peña's continued fight to prove his innocence,' said Nicholas Hart, one of Peña's attorneys, after Wednesday's sentence. 'He looks forward to the opportunity to appeal, where serious issues about the propriety of this prosecution will be addressed.' The attacks took place as threats and acts of intimidation against election workers and public officials surged across the country after Donald Trump and his allies called into question the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. Prosecutors said Peña resorted to violence in the belief that a 'rigged' election had robbed him of victory in his bid to serve in the state legislature. The shootings targeted the homes of officials including two county commissioners after their certification of the 2022 election, in which Peña lost by nearly 50 percentage points. No one was injured, but in one case bullets passed through the bedroom of a state senator's 10-year-old daughter. Two other men who had acknowledged helping Peña with the attacks had previously pleaded guilty to federal charges and received years-long prison sentences.
The Guardian
2 days ago
- The Guardian
New Mexico Republican political candidate gets 80 years for shootings at Democrats' homes
A failed political candidate in New Mexico has been sentenced to 80 years in federal prison for his convictions in a series of drive-by shootings at the homes of state and local lawmakers in the aftermath of the 2020 election. A jury convicted former Republican candidate Solomon Peña in March of conspiracy, weapons and other charges in the shootings in December 2022 and January 2023 on the homes of four Democratic officials in Albuquerque, including the current state house speaker. Prosecutors, who had sought a 90-year sentence, said Peña has shown no remorse and had hoped to cause political change by terrorizing people who held contrary views to him into being too afraid to take part in political life. Peña's lawyers had sought a 60-year sentence, saying their client maintains that he is innocent of the charges. They have said Peña was not involved in the shootings and that prosecutors were relying on the testimony of two men who bear responsibility and accepted plea agreements in exchange for leniency. 'Today was a necessary step toward Mr Peña's continued fight to prove his innocence,' said Nicholas Hart, one of Peña's attorneys, after Wednesday's sentence. 'He looks forward to the opportunity to appeal, where serious issues about the propriety of this prosecution will be addressed.' The attacks took place as threats and acts of intimidation against election workers and public officials surged across the country after Donald Trump and his allies called into question the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. Prosecutors said Peña resorted to violence in the belief that a 'rigged' election had robbed him of victory in his bid to serve in the state legislature. The shootings targeted the homes of officials including two county commissioners after their certification of the 2022 election, in which Peña lost by nearly 50 percentage points. No one was injured, but in one case bullets passed through the bedroom of a state senator's 10-year-old daughter. Two other men who had acknowledged helping Peña with the attacks had previously pleaded guilty to federal charges and received years-long prison sentences.
