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Restraining Order Sought
Emily Moreno, the daughter of Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno, filed for a restraining order against her ex-husband, Ohio Rep. Max Miller, in Cuyahoga County Court on Thursday, alleging Miller “will continue to harass, threaten and communicate” with her attorney directly.
“continue to harass, threaten and communicate”
The filing says Moreno requested protection for their 2-year-old daughter, and it describes an alleged Tuesday encounter in which Miller “physically touched my counsel without consent.”
Newsweek reported that Moreno told the court papers that attorney Larry Zukerman said during a hearing Tuesday that the lawmaker “just can’t control himself,” and the request was filed amid allegations of prior domestic abuse that Miller has “vehemently denied.”
CNN said the restraining order request alleges Miller grabbed lawyer Andrew Zashin and “grabbed” another attorney’s bag outside an Ohio courtroom during a hearing in their custody battle.
The Daily Beast added that Moreno wrote, “Unless restrained, Plaintiff will continue to harass, threaten, and communicate with my counsel,” as the case escalated from earlier custody and abuse allegations.
Ethics Calls and Denials
Democratic Women’s Caucus leaders called for an ethics investigation into Miller after the restraining-order filing, with the Daily Beast quoting lawmakers saying, “Congress can’t ignore them.”
Newsweek reported that the Democratic Women’s Caucus urged the House Committee on Ethics to “swiftly and thoroughly investigate these allegations,” while also saying “Every woman and child deserves to live free from fear of violence.”
Miller’s camp denied wrongdoing, and Newsweek quoted Miller’s spokeswoman Abigail Angelos saying, “If there were credible evidence supporting these outrageous accusations, that simply would not be the case.”
The Washington Examiner described the restraining order as filed in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and it quoted Moreno saying, “Plaintiff physically touched my counsel without consent.”
CNN added that Rep. Sam Liccardo posted on X that “Congress must never serve as a safe harbor for abusers,” as Miller told CNN last month there was no active ethics investigation into him.
Court Developments and Context
The New York Post reported that Miller’s domestic violence case against Moreno was formally dismissed after a judge concluded Miller was not harmed or made to fear for his safety, quoting Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court Judge Debra Boros: “The Judge finds that Petitioner’s Counsel was able to inform the reasons for seeking relief.”
“The Judge finds that Petitioner’s Counsel was able to inform the reasons for seeking relief”
The Post said the court also agreed Wednesday to Miller’s request to withdraw his attempt to dismiss Moreno’s attorney Andrew Zashin, and it quoted Zashin’s team saying, “Plaintiff physically grabbed Attorney Zashin in an effort to get his attention.”
People reported that no criminal charges have been filed against Miller and that an investigation by child protective services was unable to determine whether the toddler’s broken collarbone was a product of abuse, citing a Feb. 23 report from the Bay Village Police Department.
People also said Moreno told police that their daughter allegedly said “Daddy kill you,” and it reported that a child protective services specialist said bruising near the fracture resembled a “handprint.”
The Daily Beast placed the restraining-order filing within a broader custody battle, noting that a trove of court filings containing allegations of violent and erratic behavior by the Ohio lawmaker was made public earlier this month, as Miller “has strenuously denied the allegations against him.”
