Rep. Max Miller faces new restraining order from ex-wife alleging harassment of legal team

Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) faces a new restraining order from his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, who alleges he harassed her legal team. The filing adds to prior allegations that Miller held a gun to her head and injured their daughter. Most Republicans, including Miller's ex-father-in-law Sen. Bernie Moreno, have remained silent, while Democrats call for an ethics investigation. The Cook Political Report has downgraded Miller's reelection race from "Solid" to "Likely Republican."

Domestic abuse allegations

• ▪In 2021, Rep. Max Miller filed a defamation lawsuit against Stephanie Grisham after she alleged he physically abused her; he voluntarily dismissed the suit in 2023
• ▪Rep. Max Miller has denied all allegations of violence and abuse made against him
• ▪Emily Moreno has accused her ex-husband, Rep. Max Miller, of throwing hot water on her and holding a gun to her head
• ▪Emily Moreno alleged that Rep. Max Miller may have fractured their 2-year-old daughter’s collarbone

New restraining order request

• ▪On July 30, 2026, Emily Moreno filed for a new restraining order against her ex-husband, Rep. Max Miller
• ▪A temporary restraining order was partially granted to Emily Moreno against Rep. Max Miller in June 2026
• ▪The filing also alleges Rep. Max Miller used a profane slur to insult the attorney's fiancee as they were leaving the courtroom
• ▪The restraining order request alleges Rep. Max Miller "physically grabbed" one of Emily Moreno's attorneys, Andrew Zashin, during a court hearing

Republican silence on Miller

• ▪Sen. Bernie Moreno, Miller's ex-father-in-law, responded "I don't know" when asked if Republicans should replace Miller on the Ohio ballot
• ▪Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) defended Rep. Max Miller, calling the situation a "family matter" and stating he hopes Miller wins re-election
• ▪House Speaker Mike Johnson referred to the accusations as an "allegation" and pointed to the House Ethics Committee's review process
• ▪No Republican member of Congress has publicly called for Rep. Max Miller's resignation amid the abuse allegations
• ▪Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) stated that if the allegations against Rep. Max Miller are true, he should resign immediately

Political implications for House race

• ▪The Cook Political Report changed its rating of Rep. Max Miller's reelection race from "Solid Republican" to "Likely Republican" amid the allegations
• ▪The Democratic Women’s Caucus called for a House Ethics Committee investigation into the allegations against Rep. Max Miller

Miller's defamation lawsuit

• ▪Rep. Max Miller dropped his own domestic violence case against Emily Moreno in the last week of July 2026
• ▪Rep. Max Miller filed a defamation lawsuit against Emily Moreno in May 2026, citing "reputational and financial harm."

Partisan double standards on misconduct

• ▪When confronted on CNN about his differing responses to the Miller and Platner cases, Rep. Jim Jordan stumbled in his response
• ▪Republicans and conservative media had previously condemned former Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner over sexual assault allegations