The House Ethics Committee opened an investigation into domestic abuse allegations against Rep. Max Miller on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, examining claims that the Ohio Republican engaged in domestic violence, abuse of family members, and possible illegal drug use.
Emily Moreno, Miller’s ex-wife and daughter of Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno, has accused the congressman of scalding her with hot water, holding a gun to her head, and breaking their young daughter’s collarbone. The allegations emerged in recent legal filings and court documents, gaining widespread attention after Senator Moreno publicly stated that Miller “should not serve in the House” and “fails to meet that minimum basic standard” for elected office.
Miller responded by requesting the ethics investigation himself on August 4. In a post to X, he wrote: “In light of all the renewed interest in my family affairs I am going to file my own paperwork for an ethics investigation into myself to clear my name from these horrific attacks on myself and family. We will be providing the committee all necessary documents needed for a detail[ed] examination.” He stated he has “absolutely nothing to hide” and that “the accusations continue to change, but my facts stay the same.”
The House Ethics Committee cautioned that opening an investigation does not mean any violations of the official code of conduct have occurred. The panel said it will not comment further while the investigation is underway. Miller is facing pressure to resign from his reelection race, with the deadline to withdraw from the ballot set for Wednesday. CBS News reported Tuesday that President Trump and some White House officials privately hope he steps aside.
Miller has vehemently denied the allegations. He posted a video over the weekend defending himself and released files he said would clear his name. However, Emily Moreno’s legal team raised concerns about materials he shared, telling his lawyers that a Dropbox he posted included private photos of their daughter in a manner that violated her privacy and dignity.
The Miller investigation follows a similar precedent set by the House Ethics Committee’s probe into Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL). When the committee opened an investigation into Mills in November 2025 for allegations stemming from a reported February 2025 assault, the panel authorized more than 20 subpoenas and collected thousands of documents. In a rare public statement in May 2026, the ethics panel described the allegations against Mills as “serious and complex” and said it was devoting “significant resources” to the inquiry. Mills similarly denied wrongdoing and resisted calls to resign.
The Ethics Committee’s investigation into Miller comes amid a broader reckoning in Congress over misconduct allegations. Recent weeks have seen multiple high-profile resignations, including California Representative Eric Swalwell, who stepped down amid accusations of sexual assault; Texas Representative Tony Gonzales, who admitted to soliciting explicit photographs from a former staffer; and Florida Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, who resigned ahead of announced ethics sanctions over accusations of stealing disaster aid. The House Ethics Committee has also investigated representatives Alma Adams, Chuck Edwards, and others facing various misconduct allegations.
Sources
- CNBC — Miller’s request for his own ethics investigation and the allegations from Emily Moreno
- WSMV — House Ethics Committee confirmation of the investigation on August 4, 2026
- CBS News — Committee announcement and Trump administration’s private hopes for Miller’s withdrawal
- Courthouse News Service — Precedent of the Cory Mills domestic violence investigation and the House Ethics Committee’s process
