Republican Senator Bernie Moreno of Ohio on Sunday called for Representative Max Miller to resign from Congress, breaking his silence on abuse allegations that his daughter, Emily Moreno, has leveled against the congressman, who is her ex-husband.
Moreno’s statement, posted to X, marked a sharp shift. As recently as Friday, the senator had deflected when asked by NOTUS whether Miller should continue his re-election campaign, responding, “I don’t know,” according to the outlet. By Sunday, he was direct.
“If there are any basic standards of character required to hold elected office, Max Miller fails them. He should not serve in the House of Representatives,” Moreno wrote. “I believe Max Miller needs to seek professional help to end the clear pattern of abuse he has left in his wake. I believe he should not be free to continue endangering others until he does.”
The senator said he had hoped the situation would remain private. He said Miller’s “increasingly erratic and dangerous behavior has made that impossible.” Moreno, who was elected to the Senate in 2024, also said that Miller “needs serious psychological help” and that he is “a danger to my daughter,” adding that he holds his breath every minute Miller has custody of his granddaughter.
Miller denies everything and vows to stay in the race
Hours before Moreno’s statement, Miller released a livestream Sunday morning denying the allegations of domestic and child abuse and insisting he would remain in the race for re-election. The appearance came ahead of an Aug. 5 deadline, the last day Miller can withdraw in time for a replacement to be named on the ballot.
“Just want to be clear: no court, no agency has ever substantiated any allegation of abuse against me. No criminal charge has ever been filed against me,” Miller said on the livestream. “Every single one of these allegations were already investigated, and I cooperated fully every single time because I had nothing to hide and I have nothing to hide now.”
Miller, 37, said the allegations all trace back to one person. “Every one of these allegations traces back to a single source, my former wife,” he said, adding that not one has been substantiated by any court or agency. He also accused his ex-wife of having mental health challenges and released a set of files that he said would exonerate him. He was unequivocal about his plans. “I’m not getting out of this race, and I’m winning in November,” Miller said.
Allegations and the political stakes
Emily Moreno, a conservative policy adviser, shares a two-year-old daughter with Miller. The couple married in 2022 and have been involved in a custody dispute over their child since 2024. She has accused Miller of throwing hot water on her, holding a gun to her head, and breaking their daughter’s collarbone. According to the Guardian, she testified earlier this year in connection with a defamation lawsuit filed against her by Miller that he “took hot water from a pan he had just cooked eggs in and threw it at me.” The New York Times has reported that she accused Miller of holding a gun to her head.
Miller has also denied allegations made by his former girlfriend Stephanie Grisham, the former White House press secretary, as he continues his re-election campaign.
Emily Moreno’s spokesperson, Stefan Mychajliw, responded sharply to Miller’s video. Mychajliw said it was shameful that Miller had gone on what he called a bizarre and lie-filled rant about his ex-wife to desperately try to save his political career. He said there is a documented trove of evidence showing Miller has a history of violent and dangerous behavior, and that no amount of victim shaming will change that. “Miller can lie and spin on X, but he cannot do so under oath in a court of law. We are confident that justice will prevail in court,” Mychajliw said.
The accusations have intensified scrutiny of Ohio’s seventh congressional district race. Miller’s district is solidly red, and his seat was not seen as a likely flip for Democrats, but a cascading scandal could put the seat in play. Democrats are favored in the 2026 midterms, holding a 6.4 percentage point advantage in the RealClearPolitics generic ballot average. The midterms will determine the balance of power in the House and Senate for the remainder of President Donald Trump’s term.
Brian Poindexter, the Democratic challenger in the district, said Sunday that no one “credibly accused of holding a gun to his wife’s head and breaking their two-year-old daughter’s collarbone belongs in the halls of power.” Republicans have largely remained silent on the allegations so far, according to the Guardian, while Democrats view the seat as a possible pickup.
In his Sunday statement, Bernie Moreno said it had been “horrific” to witness the situation unfold in public view, “all while knowing an innocent two-year-old girl is caught in the middle.” The senator’s public intervention adds family pressure to political pressure on Miller, who faces a Wednesday deadline to decide whether to remain on the ballot.