Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno of Ohio has publicly called on his former son-in-law, Rep. Max Miller, to step down from the U.S. House of Representatives, saying the congressman should “seek professional help” as allegations of domestic abuse continue to dominate an ongoing custody dispute involving Miller and Moreno’s daughter.
Moreno’s remarks mark his strongest public statement on the matter after months of largely avoiding detailed comment while legal proceedings involving his daughter, Emily Moreno, continued. The senator’s comments came shortly after Miller defended himself in a live video posted on X, where he denied allegations of abusing his former wife and their young daughter.
Moreno Says Miller Should Not Remain in Congress
In a lengthy statement posted Sunday, Moreno questioned whether Miller met the standards expected of an elected official.
“If there are any basic standards of character required to hold elected office, Max Miller fails them. He should not serve in the House of Representatives,” Moreno wrote.
The Ohio senator also expressed concern about his family’s safety, saying Miller “needs serious psychological help” and describing him as a danger to his daughter. Moreno added that he worries whenever Miller has custody of his granddaughter.
Miller Rejects Allegations, Vows to Stay in Race
Rep. Max Miller, who has received President Donald Trump’s endorsement, responded by rejecting the allegations made against him and confirming he will continue his reelection campaign.
Speaking during a live broadcast on X, Miller denied accusations that he abused his former wife or their daughter and said he has no intention of withdrawing from the race before the deadline for replacing candidates.
“I’m not dropping out of this race and I’ll win in November,” Miller said.
Miller described the allegations as false and said they were deeply upsetting as he addressed several of the claims raised during the custody dispute.
Custody Battle Draws Increased Public Attention
The dispute between Miller and his former wife has intensified public scrutiny in recent weeks, although accusations involving the couple have been public for several years.
Emily Moreno has alleged that Miller struck her, threatened her and caused injuries during their marriage. Miller has consistently denied those allegations.
Another point of contention in the custody case involves a broken collarbone suffered by the couple’s two-year-old daughter. Emily Moreno reported the injury to authorities, while both parents have offered different explanations for how it occurred, according to court filings and police reports referenced in the case.
Miller also released court records, investigative documents, and audio and video materials related to the custody proceedings as part of his response to the allegations.
Response From Emily Moreno’s Spokesperson
Emily Moreno’s spokesperson, Stefan Mychajliw, criticized Miller’s decision to publicly address the dispute, calling the video “shameful.”
“No loving parent would have ever used their daughter as a PR pawn to save their own political career,” Mychajliw said. “Miller can lie and spin on X, but he cannot do so under oath in a court of law. We are confident that justice will prevail in court.”
The statement reflected the continuing disagreement between both sides as the custody proceedings remain unresolved.
Trump Responds to Allegations
Asked whether Miller should resign, President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the accusations had not been proven.
“So far it’s accusations,” Trump told reporters, adding, “I’ll be looking at it.”
Trump’s comments came as Republicans weigh the political implications of the controversy ahead of the upcoming election.
Political Pressure Builds Ahead of Election
Miller’s reelection campaign has come under increasing pressure as Democrats seek to capitalize on the allegations in Ohio’s congressional race.
His Democratic challenger, Brian Poindexter, argued that anyone facing such accusations should not hold public office.
Democrats have also called for Miller’s resignation, requested a congressional ethics investigation, and indicated they may increase support for Poindexter during the general election campaign.
Republicans Discuss Possible Alternatives
According to the Associated Press, some Ohio Republicans have privately discussed potential replacement candidates should Miller decide to leave the race.
Among the names reportedly being considered are State Rep. Mike Dovilla, a U.S. Navy veteran and former presidential appointee to the Office of Personnel Management, and former state senator and representative Kevin Coughlin, who previously ran for Congress in 2024 and 2026.
The discussions were reported by a senior Republican who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.
Moreno Ends Months of Public Restraint
Until now, Sen. Bernie Moreno had largely avoided commenting publicly on the specific allegations involving his former son-in-law.
Last week, his office said the senator would not litigate family matters through the media and emphasized that the safety and well-being of his daughter and granddaughter remained his highest priority.
Sunday’s statement represented a significant shift in tone, placing the senator squarely at odds with Miller as the congressman’s legal dispute and reelection campaign continue simultaneously.
Miller, who won reelection by just over 51% of the vote two years ago, remains in the race while the custody proceedings continue.
