Miller foe accuses him of assault at courthouse

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A political foe of Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. said that the Democratic lawmaker punched him in the face yesterday and that a criminal complaint has been filed.

Mr. Miller's spokeswoman, however, said nothing happened.

"It's not true," Lisa McMurray said last night. "I don't know what to tell you."

Leo Bruso, a real estate developer who is supporting a Republican candidate's long-shot run against Mr. Miller, accused Mr. Miller of punching him in the jaw when the two men encountered each other at the Prince George's County Courthouse in Upper Marlboro, Mr. Bruso's wife, Faye, said.

"He and his lawyer went and filed charges," Mrs. Bruso said. "They filed a criminal summons at the District Court."

Court officials could not be reached last night to confirm the charges.

Miss McMurray said Mr. Miller showed no sign of exchanging blows. "His hands were fine," she said.

Mr. Miller was at the courthouse for a public hearing and did see Mr. Bruso there, she said.

Mrs. Bruso said she did not know why Mr. Miller, whose Senate district includes parts of Prince George's and Calvert counties, would have struck her husband.

"There were no words exchanged," she said.

She said her husband threw a punch in return.

Mr. Bruso is supporting the candidacy of Ron Miller, a political newcomer waging a spirited but underfunded campaign to unseat the veteran lawmaker, who has served in the Senate for 31 years, 19 of them as Senate president.