Rep. Max Miller says he isn’t stepping aside. The Trump-endorsed Ohio Republican, who is facing serious allegations of domestic abuse and violence from his ex-wife, used a livestream on X Sunday to announce that he has no intention of dropping out of his reelection campaign. Instead, he turned his attention to attacking the woman accusing him.
“This isn’t about defending myself,” Miller said during the 25-minute video. “I’m speaking up as a father.”
But much of the livestream was spent accusing his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, of lying about the allegations and claiming she suffers from mental health issues.
Miller also flatly denied one of the most serious accusations against him—that he abused their 2-year-old daughter.
“Let me begin with the most painful accusation of all: I have never abused our daughter,” he said.
The accusations surfaced as part of a bitter custody dispute that has brought a series of disturbing court filings into public view.
According to those filings, Moreno alleges Miller physically abused her, once held a gun to her head, threw boiling water at her, and repeatedly engaged in dangerous behavior. Miller has denied those allegations.
The court records also reveal that law enforcement opened an investigation after the couple’s young daughter suffered a broken collarbone under unexplained circumstances. According to the filings, investigators found the injury suspicious, and a child protection specialist reportedly concluded that bruising around the fracture resembled a handprint.
Moreno also told investigators that her daughter said, “Daddy’s house is scary.”
Rather than addressing each allegation in detail, Miller argued that Moreno’s own behavior undermines her claims.
“If I had assaulted her,” he said, “would she have offered to cook me dinner six days later? Would she have invited me to spend an afternoon at the playground with her and our daughter?”
The controversy grew even larger after Miller briefly posted a Dropbox folder that he claimed would clear his name. He quickly deleted the link after metadata reportedly suggested the video may have been created using taxpayer-funded congressional resources. Miller later insisted the documents were prepared by his private attorneys and paid for with his own money.
Adding to the political fallout, Miller’s former father-in-law, Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno, publicly broke his silence and harshly condemned the congressman.
“My family has lived through pure Hell,” Moreno wrote on X.
He went on to say that Miller “needs serious psychological help,” called him “a danger” to his daughter, and argued that he “should not serve in the House of Representatives.”
The allegations are the latest chapter in a troubled history. Before Trump endorsed Miller in 2021, reports highlighted previous incidents involving violence and a past DUI arrest.
Despite the growing controversy, Trump has continued to back his former aide. Asked Sunday about the allegations aboard Air Force One, the president said he had only recently learned of them.
“So far it’s accusations,” Trump said.
For now, Miller says he’s staying in the race. Whether Republican voters—and party leaders—continue standing behind him may become one of the biggest political questions of the campaign.
Watch Miller’s video below:
Rep. Max Miller: "My former wife has claimed that during a custody exchange at my home that day, I assaulted her…If I had assaulted her, would she have offered to cook me dinner six days later?" pic.twitter.com/1IhkykMWpw
— The Bulwark (@BulwarkOnline) August 2, 2026
