Max Miller and Ed FitzGerald Square Off Over Fatal Shooting in Minneapolis

Max Miller and Ed FitzGerald are locked in a tight battle for Congress in Ohio's 7th District

Comments made by Rep. Max Miller during a recent appearance on a conservative podcast have sparked controversy in Ohio’s 7th Congressional District, prompting a sharply worded response from Democratic challenger Ed FitzGerald that has since gone viral online.

In the podcast interview, Miller addressed the fatal shooting of a woman during an encounter involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in Minneapolis. Miller characterized her actions as the result of “left-wing ideology,” saying she had been “brainwashed” into confronting officers he described as enforcing “legitimate law.”

“I believe that officer took the appropriate steps,” Miller said, adding that the woman had been given a direct order to stop and was “obstructing justice.” He also argued that criticism of the officer should be limited to those with law-enforcement or military experience, stating that people who have “never put on a uniform” have “no right to criticize” decisions made in life-or-death situations.

FitzGerald responded by releasing a video that directly juxtaposed Miller’s podcast remarks with his own critique. In the video, FitzGerald accused Miller of blaming “left-wing brainwashing” for the death of what he described as a “young mother of three,” and took issue with Miller’s assertion that only people with law-enforcement or military backgrounds are entitled to criticize the shooting.

“This was not supposed to be a military operation,” FitzGerald said, arguing that the use of force against civilians should remain subject to public scrutiny. He also challenged Miller’s credibility on law-enforcement matters, noting that Miller has no professional policing background.

FitzGerald pointed out the raw hypocrisy of Miller's stance, referencing Miller’s past arrests for driving drunk and then fighting with the police, questioning how Miller then has the gall to lecture the public on who has standing to criticize law-enforcement actions.

The video has garnered tens of thousands of views across social-media platforms in a short period of time, drawing renewed attention to the race and intensifying debate over the role of federal enforcement, accountability, and political rhetoric surrounding the use of force.

You can watch the video here and judge for yourself: