Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) called Sunday for Rep. Max Miller (R-OH), his former son-in-law, to resign from the House of Representatives and seek “serious psychological help,” escalating a family dispute that has spilled into national politics.
“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 in a post on X Sunday morning.
Miller was married to Moreno’s daughter, Emily. The couple’s divorce and ongoing custody battle over their young daughter have played out increasingly in public over the past several weeks. Emily Moreno has alleged in court filings that Miller held a gun to her head, threw boiling water on her, and broke their daughter’s collarbone. Miller denies the allegations and has sued his ex-wife for defamation.
“I believe Max Miller needs to seek professional help to end the clear pattern of abuse he has left in his wake,” Moreno wrote. “I believe he should not be free to continue endangering others until he does.”
Moreno said the situation has taken a toll on his family. “As a father and husband, I can tell you the last two years have been pure hell for my wife Bridget, our daughter Emily, me, and our entire family in the aftermath of Emily’s divorce,” he wrote. He added that Miller “is a danger to my daughter, and I hold my breath every minute he has custody of my granddaughter.”
Miller responded on X within the hour. “You know this isn’t true and the only reason you are speaking out now is to hide from your own media circus. This is all political,” he wrote.
Earlier Sunday, Miller held a livestream denying the allegations. “No court, no agency has ever substantiated any allegation of abuse against me. No criminal charge has ever been filed against me,” Miller said. He said child welfare investigations involving his daughter had been closed without findings against him.
“I’m not dropping out of this race,” Miller said. “And I’ll win in November.”
Brian Poindexter, the Democratic candidate challenging Miller in Ohio’s 7th Congressional District, issued his own statement Sunday. “No one credibly accused of holding a gun to his wife’s head and breaking their 2-year-old daughter’s collarbone belongs in the halls of power,” Poindexter wrote.
Ohio Republicans face an Aug. 5 deadline to replace a congressional candidate on the ballot. Miller, a former adviser in President Trump’s first administration, has Trump’s endorsement in the race. Democrats have identified the district as a potential pickup opportunity given the controversy.
