Ohio Republican Rep. Max Miller posted a video Sunday denying abuse allegations from his ex-wife Emily Moreno and vowed to continue his reelection campaign, defying mounting calls for him to resign from his race for the House seat representing Ohio’s 7th Congressional District.
“I’ve been portrayed as an abusive husband, an abusive father and a violent man,” Miller said in the video posted to social media. “Those allegations have damaged my reputation, caused enormous pain to my family and most importantly, it’s affected our daughter.”
Miller stated that every allegation against him has been investigated and that he cooperated fully with those investigations. He characterized his ex-wife’s claims as part of a pattern of “pouring incredibly, serious, destructive allegations with absolutely no evidence.”
Moreno has filed a restraining order against the 37-year-old congressman during an ongoing custody battle over their two-year-old daughter. In court proceedings, she has accused Miller of throwing hot water on her, holding a gun to her head, and breaking their daughter’s collarbone, according to The Hill and other outlets.
Sen. Bernie Moreno, Emily’s father and a fellow Ohio Republican, called on Miller to resign the same day. “As he has admitted privately, Max Miller needs serious psychological help,” Moreno wrote on social platform X. “He is a danger to my daughter, and I hold my breath every minute he has custody of my granddaughter.”
The senator added that if there are “any basic standards of character required to hold elected office, Max Miller fails them” and urged him to seek professional help to end “the clear pattern of abuse he has left in his wake.”
Mounting Legal and Political Pressure
Miller faces additional legal challenges beyond the custody dispute. Former Trump press secretary Stephanie Grisham filed a lawsuit against Miller in July, alleging he violated a confidential settlement agreement by referencing her in court filings related to his dispute with Moreno. In 2023, Miller had voluntarily dropped an earlier defamation lawsuit against Grisham after the two reached a settlement.
Democratic lawmakers have also called for a House Ethics Committee investigation into Miller’s conduct. Mother Jones reported in July that court documents detail allegations against Miller including drug use, misogyny, verbal abuse, and violent behavior against multiple women.
Miller, who has represented Ohio’s 7th Congressional District since January 2023, said his reelection campaign is about his family and holding the media accountable. “I’m not getting out of this race, and I’m winning in November,” he said.
His Democratic opponent, ironworker Brian Poindexter, said in May that the accusations against the incumbent “deserve the attention” of law enforcement. Ohio GOP officials are facing a deadline to replace Miller on the ballot if he decides to drop out, according to The Hill.
Sources
- The Hill — Miller’s video statement denying allegations, his vow to stay in the race, and Sen. Moreno’s call for resignation
- New York Times — Details of abuse allegations including hot water, gun, and broken collarbone
- CNN — Miller’s denial of domestic abuse allegations and Trump’s defense of him
- Axios — Miller’s livestream on X and his statement about staying in the race
- Mother Jones — Court documents detailing allegations of drug use, misogyny, verbal abuse, and violence
- Spectrum News — Stephanie Grisham’s lawsuit alleging Miller violated their settlement agreement
- PBS NewsHour — Democrats’ calls for ethics investigation and the political fallout
