Republican Senator Bernie Moreno has called on Representative Max Miller, his former son-in-law, to leave Congress as allegations of domestic and child abuse intensify pressure on the Ohio lawmaker’s reelection campaign.
Moreno issued his strongest public statement on the dispute Sunday, saying Miller did not meet the standards of character required to serve in the House of Representatives. He also urged the congressman to seek professional help and claimed that Miller’s recent behavior had made it impossible for the family conflict to remain private.
The accusations remain disputed, and Miller has denied abusing either his former wife, Emily Moreno, or their young daughter. No court has ruled that Miller committed domestic or child abuse, and no criminal charges related to the allegations have been publicly announced.
Miller responded in an approximately 18-minute livestream on X, saying he would remain in the race and expected to win reelection in November.
TRENDING TODAY
He said no court or government agency had substantiated the allegations against him and argued that the accusations emerged from a bitter divorce and custody dispute. Miller also released or promised to release court records, text messages and other material that he said supported his account.
Among the allegations described in court filings and police records, Emily Moreno has accused Miller of throwing hot water at her and threatening her with a firearm during their marriage. She has also questioned how their two-year-old daughter suffered a broken collarbone while in Miller’s care.
Miller denied holding a gun to his former wife’s head and said the hot-water incident had been misrepresented. He also denied causing his daughter’s injury and said child-protection authorities had cleared him. The former couple has offered conflicting explanations for what occurred.
The dispute is unfolding through several legal proceedings. Miller has filed a defamation lawsuit against Emily Moreno and members of her legal team, alleging that they knowingly spread false claims that damaged his personal and political reputation. The former couple is also involved in a continuing custody battle.
Those civil cases are separate from any criminal process. Allegations made in lawsuits, testimony or police interviews are not equivalent to convictions, and Miller retains the right to contest them in court.
Bernie Moreno said he had initially hoped to protect his daughter and granddaughter by avoiding a public confrontation. His decision to speak openly represents a significant escalation because he is not only a close relative of Miller’s former wife but also a Republican senator challenging a member of his own party.
A spokesperson for Emily Moreno criticized Miller’s livestream, arguing that he had improperly brought their daughter into a political defense of his career. Miller maintains that he went public because he needed to respond directly to accusations receiving national attention.
The timing creates an immediate problem for Republican officials in Ohio.
Miller won the Republican primary for Ohio’s 7th Congressional District and is scheduled to face Democratic candidate Brian Poindexter in the November 3 election. Miller said he would not withdraw, but Republicans reportedly face a Wednesday deadline connected to replacing him on the general-election ballot.
Ohio law provides a process for filling a congressional nomination vacancy when a candidate withdraws before the 90th day preceding the general election. Resigning from his current House seat and withdrawing from the November race would be two separate decisions.
Democrats already viewed the allegations as an opportunity to make the district more competitive. They have called for Miller’s resignation and for a congressional ethics investigation, while Poindexter has argued that the accusations raise questions about Miller’s fitness for office.
Republicans must now decide whether to continue supporting Miller, pressure him to withdraw before the replacement deadline or allow voters to resolve the issue in November.
The political consequences could extend beyond one Ohio district. House control may depend on a relatively small number of competitive races, meaning an unexpected opening in a seat normally favorable to Republicans could attract significant national spending and attention.
At the same time, political calculations should not substitute for a legal determination. Calls for resignation may be based on judgments about character and public trust, while determining whether criminal or civil wrongdoing occurred requires evidence, testimony and formal proceedings.
It remains unclear whether Miller will face additional investigations, whether Republican leaders will join Moreno’s resignation demand or whether the ongoing court cases will produce new evidence before Election Day.
Why It Matters
Members of Congress hold positions of public trust and help write laws involving crime, family protection and government accountability. Serious allegations involving an elected official therefore create legitimate questions about fitness for office, even while due process requires that disputed claims not be presented as proven facts.
The controversy could also affect which party controls the House. A district that Republicans expected to retain may become more competitive if the dispute damages turnout, fundraising or support among undecided voters.
What Comes Next
Miller has said he will remain in the election, making a voluntary withdrawal before the replacement deadline appear unlikely unless Republican pressure increases rapidly.
The custody and defamation disputes will continue through the courts, where both sides may be required to provide testimony and evidence under oath.
Republican congressional leaders and President Trump, who has previously supported Miller, may also face growing pressure to state whether they believe he should remain in office and on the ballot.
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.
It has been horrific to watch this play out in full public view, all while knowing an innocent…
— Bernie Moreno (@berniemoreno) August 2, 2026
