Republicans Urge Rep. Max Miller to Resign Amid Abuse Allegations

A surge of Republicans are urging Rep. Max Miller to step down and cease his congressional campaign due to abuse claims from his ex-wife, Emily Moreno. Miller, representing Ohio, has firmly denied the accusations. These allegations gained national attention after Miller addressed them in a Sunday livestream.

Sen. Bernie Moreno, Emily Moreno’s father, publicly criticized Miller, labeling him a threat to his daughter and expressing concerns for his granddaughter’s safety. Despite this, Miller remains determined to continue his reelection campaign. The nomination deadline for a replacement candidate in Ohio is August 10, with the selection process being conducted by county party chairs.

Emily Moreno accused Miller of extreme actions such as holding a gun to her head and throwing her against a wall, according to court documents. She also claims he threw hot water on her. Although Miller faces no criminal charges, he has aggressively disputed these claims, suing Emily Moreno for defamation following a report from the Daily Mail. Lawyers for Emily Moreno have requested the dismissal of this lawsuit.

Miller has voluntarily called for an investigation by the House Ethics Committee into these allegations, asserting he has ‘nothing to hide.’ He defended himself in a livestream, citing documents he claims support his innocence. He questioned the credibility of Emily Moreno’s accusations by asking whether she would have engaged in normal interactions with him after the alleged incidents.

Emily Moreno’s spokesperson, Stefan Mychajliw, criticized Miller’s response as a desperate attempt to salvage his political career, citing evidence of his past violent behavior. Democrats have widely condemned Miller, joined by a growing number of Republicans, who suggest he should exit the Ohio congressional race.

Sen. Tim Sheehy noted an additional incident involving a toy belonging to his granddaughter, accusing Miller of holding it ‘hostage.’ Miller shared communications where he coordinated its return, emphasizing his adherence to previous agreements with Senator Moreno.

Sheehy expressed disdain for Miller’s actions, describing them as unfit for a Congressional candidate. Sen. Jon Husted of Ohio expressed similar sentiments, welcoming the ethics committee’s investigation and suggesting resignation is appropriate if the abuse claims are verified.

Other senators, like Katie Britt and Roger Marshall, have echoed these calls for Miller’s resignation and withdrawal from the race. Marshall emphasized trust in Emily Moreno’s family values, despite not having heard Miller’s side of the story directly.

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito and Sen. Cynthia Lummis also leaned toward supporting Marino’s decision, while Sen. Lisa Murkowski stated that allegations of domestic abuse are not representative of desirable traits in lawmakers.