Rep. Max Miller of Ohio is facing escalating legal battles and a high-profile campaign challenge over domestic abuse allegations that have now become a central issue in his 2026 reelection race. His ex-wife Emily Moreno told police that Miller held a gun to her while she was changing their daughter, an allegation Miller denies.
The allegations against Miller, a Republican who represents Ohio’s 7th District, center on his tumultuous relationship with Moreno. In June 2026, CNN obtained police audio in which Moreno described the gun incident to investigators looking into a separate allegation that their daughter suffered a broken collarbone in February 2026. Miller has denied all claims of abuse.
The legal conflict escalated in May when Miller filed a defamation lawsuit against Moreno and her legal team, seeking at least $25,000 in damages. Miller alleged that Moreno was mounting a “defamatory campaign” to undermine his congressional career. Moreno later filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing Miller was trying to silence her.
In July 2026, Mother Jones obtained more than 2,000 pages of court filings and police reports documenting allegations spanning years. The documents contain accusations of drug use, misogyny, verbal abuse, and violent behavior against multiple women. Moreno alleged in court filings that Miller threw hot water at her, shoved her against a wall, and made derogatory comments about her body.
The allegations have now moved from the courtroom into the political arena. Late last month, the Battleground Alliance PAC, a Democratic-aligned group backed by major labor unions, launched approximately 100,000 robocalls targeting Miller’s district. The calls directly referenced domestic abuse allegations from two women—Moreno and Miller’s ex-girlfriend Stephanie Grisham, a former White House press secretary. Grisham wrote in her 2021 memoir that Miller “got physical” with her.
Miller’s campaign responded to the robocalls by calling them “vile, desperate and frankly untrue,” and demanded that his Democratic challenger Brian Poindexter disavow the effort. Miller has said the allegations have not interfered with his work as a congressman and that he has not received constituent complaints about his personal life.
Political observers have noted that Miller’s repeated court filings have kept the allegations in the news cycle, potentially damaging his political standing. When candidates facing scandal allegations pursue aggressive litigation, they often generate additional media coverage that extends public attention to the allegations rather than allowing them to fade.
The case parallels recent precedent in Maine politics. In July 2026, Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner withdrew from his race after a woman accused him of sexual assault—an allegation he denied. Within days, major Democratic leaders withdrew their endorsements and support, forcing Platner’s exit from the campaign. Miller, however, remains in Congress and is running for reelection despite the mounting allegations and legal disputes.
Miller is now engaged in two separate legal battles—one with Moreno over the defamation lawsuit and another with Grisham, who sued him in July claiming he violated the terms of their settlement by making disparaging remarks about her in public statements.
Sources
- CNN — police audio of ex-wife’s allegations about gun incident and abuse claims
- Politico — May 2026 defamation lawsuit filing details and damages sought
- Mother Jones — 2,000+ pages of court documents and police reports detailing abuse allegations and drug use accusations
- Cleveland.com — July 2026 robocall campaign and campaign impact analysis
- News5Cleveland — legal battles with ex-wife and ex-girlfriend
- NPR — Graham Platner Maine Senate race exit as comparable precedent
