The list of Republicans who have banded together to condemn Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) is growing after Miller’s ex-wife, Emily Moreno, alleged that he abused her and their daughter.
A shocking Mother Jones investigation last month revealed police reports and filings in which Moreno, the daughter of Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), accused Miller of holding a gun to her head, throwing hot water on her and potentially breaking their daughter’s collarbone. Text messages also suggest that Miller withheld his daughter’s stuffed bunny from her on multiple occasions.
The two-term representative, who was previously accused of abuse by former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham, is seeking reelection.
Though Miller has denied the accusations, the House Ethics Committee is now investigating him at his request. As the investigation proceeds, more Republicans are calling for Miller to resign and drop his reelection bid.
“He is a danger to my daughter, and I hold my breath every minute he has custody of my granddaughter,” Sen. Moreno said. “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. 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.”
“Any member of Congress who’s involved in domestic abuse should resign,” Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) said Wednesday. “That’s why I am glad that the House opened up an ethics investigation. They will get to the bottom of whether those allegations are true, and if they’re true, then he should step down.”
Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) called Miller “a degenerate sociopath.”
“What kind of person would treat their daughter this way?” Sheehy asked. “Max should step aside and seek help. Staying in this race makes it far more likely we lose this seat and hand Democrats a majority to impeach President Trump.”
“I don’t know [Miller]. I haven’t read a whole lot about him, but if [Moreno] thinks he ought to resign, I’m supportive of that,” Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia said, according to Politico.
Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas also said Miller should resign, according to Politico.
“I don’t know Mr. Miller’s story, but I trust Bernie so much as a good friend, and his family has such high values,” Marshall said in an interview. “I couldn’t imagine them wanting this out in public. So to go through with this, it makes me think that they’re telling the whole truth and nothing but the truth.”
Trump also reportedly encouraged Miller to step down in a private conversation, pointing out that “things aren’t looking good.”
Publicly, though, the president has said he isn’t going to get involved.
“I’m not going to get involved, that’s a very sad situation, and I know Max very well, but it’s very, very sad that a situation like that takes place,” Trump said.
Similarly, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) stopped short of openly condemning Miller, saying “we have to allow this process to play out. It’s just begun.”
Miller has until Monday to drop out of the race to allow Republicans to replace him, but, defiantly, he has said he will remain in the race.
A representative for Miller did not immediately respond to JS’s request for comment.
Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) for the National Domestic Violence Hotline.