The former spouse of Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) alleged in a new court filing that Miller has harassed and threatened her lawyers, escalating a case that began with allegations of domestic abuse.
Emily Moreno, the daughter of Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), previously alleged that Miller once threw hot water from a skillet at her, held a gun to her head, and may have fractured their 2-year-old daughter’s collarbone, according to police records obtained by Mother Jones.
An affidavit signed by Moreno and filed Thursday, first reported by The New York Times, alleges Miller “physically touched [Moreno’s] counsel without consent” and has communicated with her legal team directly.
Moreno was partially granted a temporary restraining order against her ex-husband last month.
Miller, a two-term congressman up for reelection this fall, filed a defamation lawsuit against Moreno in May, citing “the considerable reputational and financial harm” caused by his ex-wife’s accusations that he was “a violent and abusive husband and father.”
In 2021, Miller filed a similar defamation lawsuit against former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham after Grisham alleged that Miller had physically abused her when they dated. He voluntarily dismissed that lawsuit in 2023.
AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File
Miller has denied all accusations of violence. He filed his own domestic violence case against Moreno, but dropped it earlier this week. A lawyer for Miller did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Democratic Women’s Caucus called for a House Ethics Committee investigation into Miller on Thursday.
“The recent reports of domestic violence and child abuse against Representative Max Miller are deeply disturbing and Congress can’t ignore them,” the group said in a statement. “Allegations of violence against women and children have to be met with the utmost seriousness. We therefore call on the House Committee on Ethics to swiftly and thoroughly investigate these allegations.”
“Every woman and child deserves to live free from fear of violence, especially within the sanctity of their own home, and we will not stop fighting until that’s the reality,” the statement added.
Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) for the National Domestic Violence Hotline.