Max Miller faces House ethics investigation amid domestic violence allegations

Aug 2, 2026

Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) faces a House Ethics Committee investigation amid allegations of domestic violence from his ex-wife, Emily Moreno. The claims, which Miller denies, include assault and holding her at gunpoint. Miller's ex-father-in-law, Sen. Bernie Moreno, and other Republicans have called for his resignation, jeopardizing his reelection in a key district for the GOP's narrow House majority.

Domestic violence allegations

▪No criminal charges were filed against Rep. Max Miller in connection with the investigation into his daughter's broken collarbone
▪The abuse allegations were detailed during a police investigation into how the couple's toddler daughter suffered a broken collarbone
▪In 2021, Rep. Max Miller sued former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham for defamation after she alleged he physically abused her; he later dropped the lawsuit
▪Emily Moreno, the ex-wife of Rep. Max Miller, has accused him of multiple instances of domestic abuse
▪Specific allegations against Rep. Max Miller include scalding Emily Moreno with hot water, shoving her against a wall, and holding a gun to her head

Miller's public defense

▪In a livestream, Rep. Max Miller claimed his ex-wife is "engaging in a pattern of reporting incredible, serious and destructive allegations with absolutely no evidence."
▪Rep. Max Miller's attorney, Aaron Minc, admitted to "unintentionally" posting a sensitive image of Miller's 2-year-old daughter as part of a document release
▪Rep. Max Miller has publicly denied the abuse allegations and has stated he will not drop his reelection bid

Republican response

▪Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), Miller's former father-in-law, stated Miller "should not serve in the House of Representatives" and is a "danger" to his daughter
▪President Donald Trump publicly called Rep. Max Miller a "very good person" but privately told him in a phone call that "things aren’t looking good" for his campaign
▪Republican Senators Shelley Moore Capito and Roger Marshall have both stated that Rep. Max Miller should resign from Congress

House Ethics Committee debate

▪The House Ethics Committee announced it is investigating allegations that Rep. Max Miller engaged in domestic violence and illegal drug use
▪The Democratic Women’s Caucus called for an official House Ethics investigation into the allegations against Rep. Max Miller
▪Rep. Max Miller requested that the House Ethics Committee investigate him in order to "clear my name."

Electoral implications

▪The controversy over the allegations threatens Rep. Max Miller's reelection in what was previously considered a safe Republican district in Ohio
▪Under Ohio law, Rep. Max Miller faced an August deadline to withdraw from the election to allow the Republican party to name a replacement on the ballot
▪Rep. Max Miller faces Democratic candidate Brian Poindexter in the November 3 midterm election
▪Republicans hold a narrow majority in the House of Representatives, increasing the importance of Rep. Max Miller's race