(José Niño, Headline USA) Republicans face an unexpected threat in northeast Ohio, where a bitter feud between two of the state’s most prominent conservatives now shadows a seat the party long treated as secure. The New York Times reported that domestic abuse allegations against Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio, have alarmed President Donald Trump’s political operation as the midterm map tightens.
Miller, a second term Republican who rose through Trump’s orbit, faces accusations from his former wife, Emily Moreno, daughter of Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio. She says Miller burned her chest and stomach with hot water thrown from a skillet, held a gun to her head, shoved her into a wall, and fractured their toddler daughter’s collarbone. Court filings quote the child telling her mother, “Daddy kill you.”
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Miller rejects every claim and has counter-attacked. He sued Moreno for defamation, accused her of “repeated false reports” to child protective services and law enforcement, and told the court he fears her “vindictive and unpredictable behavior.” In a June interview with Spectrum News, he said his former wife “sadly isn’t all there.” Her lawyer Andrew Zashin disputes Miller’s assertions that she owns a handgun or carries a bipolar diagnosis. Miller has sued Zashin too.
Trump advisers privately worry Miller is damaging Republican prospects in a district the president carried by double digits in 2024, three people familiar with the discussions told the Times. Internal Democratic polling puts Miller a single point ahead of challenger Brian Poindexter. If the allegations hold up, Poindexter said, “Miller should be in jail, not worried about retaining a seat in Congress.” Democrats worry only that Republicans might swap Miller off the ballot before an August 5 deadline.
Miller waves off the danger. “Texas is turning blue like I’m losing my seat,” he texted a Times reporter, adding, “Take a hike.”
Campaign spokeswoman Abigail Angelos noted courts still grant Miller joint custody and said he will “vigorously defend his reputation against false and reckless allegations.”
Senator Moreno stays publicly quiet. His spokeswoman Reagan McCarthy said, “Senator Moreno’s top priority is the safety and well being of his daughter and granddaughter.”
José Niño is the deputy editor of Headline USA. Follow him at x.com/JoseAlNino
