Republican Congressman Max Miller of Ohio, who has been endorsed by Donald Trump, has been accused of physically abusing his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, who is the daughter of Republican Senator Bernie Moreno. Miller has denied the allegations, but court filings obtained by the Daily Mail have made them public.
According to the court documents, Miller allegedly hit Emily during a custody exchange for their 2-year-old daughter in February, leaving bruises on her arm and torso. She also claims that Miller threw a pot of boiling water on her in 2024 while their daughter was present in the room.
This is not the first time Miller has faced abuse accusations. His ex-girlfriend, former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham, alleged that he pushed her against a wall and slapped her in 2020. Miller denied those allegations as well and later dropped a lawsuit he had filed against Grisham.
Miller’s denials are hard to square with the bruise photos now reportedly submitted as evidence
Photos of Emily’s bruises, obtained by the Daily Mail, show visible injuries on her arm and torso that she says were caused by Miller during the custody exchange. In a motion filed as part of their divorce proceedings, Emily claimed that Miller regularly spoke to her in an “inappropriate, aggressive and demeaning manner,” which she argued is not in the best interest of their child.
Miller, in response, accused his ex-wife of having “mental health issues.” According to People, He also claimed that his ex-father-in-law, Senator Bernie Moreno, is funding a “malicious campaign to ruin my life.” In a statement, Miller wrote that his ex-wife needs help and is more focused on hurting him than on loving their child. The case is drawing wider attention at a time when Republican senators are facing serious electoral pressure heading into the next election cycle.
Miller has also asked a judge to order psychological evaluations of Emily, citing what he described as her “increasingly confrontational, irrational, and somewhat bizarre” behavior since the couple’s divorce. The custody battle between the two is still ongoing.
The police department in Bay Village, Ohio, confirmed that it responded to a report of child abuse in 2024, and that investigation remains open. The couple’s 2-year-old daughter has been at the center of the custody dispute throughout the case. Both Miller and Senator Bernie Moreno are political allies of Trump and have received his endorsements.
Miller has served in the House since 2023, while Senator Moreno was first elected in 2024. Trump has publicly praised Miller, calling him a “fantastic Champion for the Great People of Ohio’s 7th Congressional District.” Trump’s influence over GOP primaries has also been on full display elsewhere, as Trump-backed challengers ousted sitting Republican senators in Indiana over a single contentious issue.
Published: May 12, 2026 11:00 am