The allegations against Max Miller had been sitting in court records for two years before most of the country ever heard about them. Then a magazine got hold of them, and suddenly a sitting Ohio congressman was calling for an investigation into his own conduct — one he insists will clear his name.
What His Ex-Wife Alleges
Emily Moreno, who filed for divorce from Miller in 2024 after two years of marriage, has alleged in court filings that he scalded her by throwing hot water on her body, pushed her against a wall, and once held a gun to her head. A more recent point of contention in their custody dispute: Moreno says their toddler daughter suffered a fractured collarbone, and that this led her to contact authorities.
A Second Accuser
Moreno isn't the only woman to come forward. Former Trump White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham has accused Miller of pushing her against a wall and slapping her during a past relationship. Miller has filed a defamation lawsuit against Grisham over her public statements.
Miller's Defense
Miller denies all of it. He has said he was never physically abusive toward Moreno and described the hot water incident specifically as "horseplay." He requested the House Ethics Committee open its own investigation into him, which the committee agreed to do, reviewing whether he "may have engaged in domestic violence and abuse or illegal drug use" in violation of congressional conduct rules.
Resolutions like this and the allegations they contain are not going to stop me from representing the people of Ohio's 7th district.
Rep. Max Miller (paraphrased from public statements)
Why Republicans Are Stuck
Miller is the GOP's already-nominated candidate for reelection this fall, and the deadline to replace him on the November ballot has effectively passed. House Republican Conference Chair Lisa McClain has said she wishes the allegations "aren't true" — a notably non-committal line from her own party's leadership — while several prominent Republicans have declined to publicly back him. Democrats, meanwhile, see the seat as newly winnable in a district that hadn't been considered competitive.
Where This Stands
Miller has not withdrawn from the race and shows no sign of doing so. The Ethics Committee investigation is ongoing, with no public timeline for when it concludes — meaning Ohio voters may head to the polls in November with the question still open.
