Allegations Against GOPer Put Safe House Seat at Risk

An Ohio House race that was supposed to more or less be a Republican lock is suddenly in play, thanks to an explosive domestic dispute involving a Trump-aligned congressman and the daughter of one of the state's GOP senators. Rep. Max Miller, a second-term Republican from northeast Ohio and former Trump White House aide, is facing detailed abuse allegations from his ex-wife, Emily Moreno Miller, who accuses him in court filings of scalding her with hot water, holding a gun to her head, assaulting her, and causing their young daughter's broken collarbone, reports the New York Times.

Miller, who has joint custody of the child, denies all wrongdoing and is suing Moreno, the daughter of Republican Ohio Sen. Bernie Moreno, for defamation, calling her unstable (he claims she has untreated bipolar disorder), dishonest, and dangerous. He also claims his daughter's collarbone was caused by Moreno's risky driving. Moreno's attorney says she has no bipolar diagnosis and doesn't own a gun. According to an investigative report cited by Mother Jones, Moreno has claimed her daughter once said, "Daddy's house is scary." CNN has footage of police interviews involving an emotional Moreno as she detailed her allegations.

In a June interview with the New York Post, Miller broke out his own audio that he said backed him up, especially regarding his bipolar claims. The bitter legal and media crossfire is now a political problem. Internal polling reportedly shows Miller only a point ahead of Democrat Brian Poindexter, in a district that Trump carried by double digits in 2024, per the Times. Republicans, including figures in Trump's circle, are said to be worried that the scandal could cost them the seat, even as Miller dismisses concerns and lashes out at reporters. Democrats are eyeing the race but also watching to see if Republicans move to replace Miller before an Aug. 5 deadline.

Miller is also accused of threatening his ex's father. "You know I never hurt our daughter," Miller texted to the senator, according to court filings cited by Mother Jones. "Take this however you want, everyone is going to get to know you better than your wife does." A spokesperson for the senator tells the Times that the senator's "top priority is the safety and well-being of his daughter and granddaughter." The paper notes that another known name has leveled domestic-abuse allegations against Miller: onetime White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham, who dated him a few years back.