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Abuse Allegations Surface
Ohio Rep. Max Miller’s reelection bid faces questions after his ex-wife Emily Moreno, the daughter of Sen. Bernie Moreno, alleged multiple incidents of physical violence during their marriage and divorce proceedings.
“Miller "threw her against the wall, which resulted in an obvious grab mark on her upper arm"”
ABC News reported that Moreno told police officers that Miller "threw her against the wall, which resulted in an obvious grab mark on her upper arm" and that she also alleged he "held a gun to her head" and threw hot water on her.
The allegations come as Miller, who represents Ohio's 7th District, runs for reelection against Democrat Brian Poindexter, a union iron worker, in November.
ABC News said Miller was never charged with a crime and the Department of Children and Family Services did not find evidence to substantiate allegations of child abuse, according to records released in court filings.
In parallel, Democrats called for an ethics investigation into Miller as the scrutiny intensified around the claims involving their 2-year-old daughter and custody proceedings.
Democrats Demand Ethics Probe
The Democratic Women’s Caucus leaders said the reports of domestic violence and child abuse against Rep. Max Miller are "deeply disturbing" and called on the House Committee on Ethics to "swiftly and thoroughly investigate these allegations."
In a statement released by Democratic Women’s Caucus leaders Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03), Emilia Sykes (OH-13), and Hillary Scholten (MI-03), they said, "Every woman and child deserves to live free from fear of violence," and they added, "we will not stop fighting until that's the reality."
The Hill reported that the caucus statement came shortly after Giffords, a gun violence prevention advocacy group founded by former Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-Ariz.), called for Miller to resign, arguing that "Congress is no place for violent abusers who attack their family and hold a gun to their wife’s head."
The Hill also quoted Speaker Mike Johnson pointing to the Ethics Committee process, saying, "We have a process here in the House, the Ethics Committee works on those things."
Miller denied the allegations, and the dispute has continued alongside his defamation lawsuit against Moreno and the custody battle over their young daughter.
Political Stakes and Responses
ABC News said the allegations are coming amid Miller’s reelection bid for what is seen as a safe Republican seat, and it noted that Cook Political Report changed the race’s ranking from "Solid Republican" to "Likely Republican" shortly after internal polling found Democratic challenger Brian Poindexter trailing Miller by just one point.
“Cook Political Report changed the race's ranking from "Solid Republican" to "Likely Republican"”
In the same reporting, ABC News said Miller won the district with only 51% of the vote in 2024, while Trump won the district with 55% of the vote in 2024, and it described outside groups stepping in to elevate the accusations.
The Hill reported that the Democratic Women’s Caucus statement was joined in calling for the investigation by Giffords and that Johnson said he was "not in the business of commenting on investigations as they’re in process."
Truthout quoted Abby Vesoulis saying, "There is an established pattern of multiple women claiming that they were abused by Congressman Max Miller," as Democrats pressed for an ethics investigation.
As the legal and political fight continues, Poindexter said, "If all the allegations against Congressman Miller prove to be true, Max Miller should be in jail, not worried about retaining a seat in Congress," while Miller denies abusing his wife or daughter.
