U.S. Rep. Max Miller says he'll continue his reelection bid, despite mounting scrutiny involving allegations of domestic abuse involving his ex-wife.
"I'm not getting out of this race and I'm winning in November," Miller said in an announcement on X the morning of Aug. 2.
The Northeast Ohio Republican congressman made his announcement as the deadline was fast approaching for him to drop out of his race.
Miller continued to deny that he ever abused Emily Moreno, his former wife, or their 2-year-old daughter and said he would provide documentation to back up these claims.
Miller faces competition from Democratic challenger Brian Poindexter in November to hold onto his 7th District seat. The district covers Medina and Ashland counties and parts of Cuyahoga and Wayne counties.
Aug. 5 is the last day for Republicans to replace Miller on the November ballot.
Allegations against Miller were first reported by the Akron Beacon Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network, in June.
The New York Times has again brought to light the domestic abuse allegations Emily Moreno made against Miller, her ex-husband.
Miller has denied ever physically abusing Moreno or any other woman.
"Absolutely not," Miller said during a half-hour interview with the Akron Beacon Journal on June 2. "Talk to anyone who knows me. Anyone who knows me would say the same thing."
Moreno is the daughter of U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio.
A few special interest groups called for Miller to resign last week after the New York Times and several other national media outlets reported on the abuse allegations.
With control of the U.S. House of Representatives tight, the Ohio race is getting added attention. Cook Political Report recently moved the race's ranking to "likely Republican" from "solid Republican."
Moreno alleges Miller abused her during and after their three-year marriage.
Moreno told Bay Village police earlier this year that Miller threw hot water on her, burning her, and threw her against a wall during a custody exchange. She didn't request a police investigation, and Miller wasn't charged.
Photos Moreno took of her alleged injuries appeared in The Daily Mail, a British tabloid, and in a recent court filing.
In January 2024, on New Year's Eve, she said their daughter, who was sleeping in a bassinet in their room, was crying and that angered Miller. While she changed the sobbing girl's diaper, she said Miller held a gun on her, according to police reports.
Miller has denied Moreno's accusations and is suing her for defamation in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court. Moreno's attorneys filed a request for dismissal, claiming Miller's lawsuit falls under Ohio's new anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) law that protects people from being sued when they are speaking about matters of public interest.
Poindexter said the allegations against Miller are "very serious."
"I don't know if he should resign or not, but I would say is that if these allegations are true, he should be in jail," Poindexter said at the Ohio Democratic Party's annual dinner on Aug. 1 in Columbus.
Miller filed for divorce in August 2024 and has recently been locked in a heated battle with his ex-wife over custody of their daughter. He has alleged that Moreno suffers from a mental illness and that this has fueled her false abuse allegations against him.
Moreno's attorneys deny she is mentally ill and have questioned why Miller agreed to give her primary custody of their daughter if he believed she was unstable. Miller and Moreno agreed to joint custody in their divorce, but each are now seeking sole custody.
Miller and Moreno married at President Donald Trump's Bedminster golf club in August 2022; the president was present at the ceremony.
Miller worked in Trump's administration as a political appointee during his first term. When Miller first ran for Congress in November 2022, Trump endorsed him and he won.
Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at [email protected] or 330-996-3705. State bureau reporter Jessie Balmert contributed to this story.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Ohio Congressman Max Miller staying in race, fighting abuse allegations