Bernie Moreno silent as Max Miller abuse claims rock OH race
Rep. Max Miller faces domestic abuse allegations from ex-wife Emily Moreno—daughter of Sen. Bernie Moreno—while Republicans largely stay quiet and Ohio's 7th District tightens ahead of the 2026 midterms. Police interview footage obtained by CNN details claims including a gun pointed at her head; Miller denies the claims as false and politically motivated.
Key Takeaways
- Emily Moreno, daughter of Sen. Bernie Moreno, alleged in a Bay Village police interview that Max Miller held a gun to her head and physically abused her.
- Miller denies the claims, calls them false and politically motivated, and filed a defamation suit; no criminal charges have resulted.
- Sen. Bernie Moreno has largely limited public comments to loving his daughter and prioritizing her and his granddaughter's safety.
- Speaker Mike Johnson brushed off questions by stressing the claims are allegations; OH-07 polls and ratings show a tighter race.
The dispute has thrust Sen. Bernie Moreno into an awkward spotlight: his daughter's allegations target a Republican House colleague, yet the senator has largely avoided escalating the fight in public.
In June, CNN obtained Bay Village, Ohio, police footage of a February interview tied to a child custody dispute. In that interview, Emily Moreno alleged Miller once held a gun to her head during an argument and described other physical abuse, according to Rolling Stone. She said Miller became angry when she turned on lights while changing their then-infant daughter's diaper at night, then yelled and pointed a gun at her head. She also told police that during a pickup for a birthday party, Miller threw her into a wall and she fell to the ground.
Miller has firmly denied the allegations. He told Spectrum News the claims are false, that their divorce was finalized on Dec. 18, 2025, and that no police reports were ever filed, Newsweek reported. He has alleged she has bipolar disorder; her attorney, Subodh Chandra, says she has no such diagnosis.
Miller filed a defamation case against his ex-wife in May. She earlier sought a restraining order and asked a court to reevaluate custody. No criminal charges have resulted, and the claims remain disputed and unproven in court.
What has Bernie Moreno said about the claims?
In May, after Miller accused his daughter of defamation, Sen. Bernie Moreno told reporters his only comment was that he loved his daughter and that her and his granddaughter's safety were his top priority, Rolling Stone reported. He has not called for Miller to resign or be expelled from the House.
Are Republicans treating these allegations differently?
House Speaker Mike Johnson dismissed questions about Miller—and separate allegations involving Rep. Cory Mills—by stressing the key word “allegation.” The scrutiny arrives as Republicans highlight misconduct claims against Democrats, including the suspension of Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner's campaign amid sexual assault allegations.
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Could Democrats flip Max Miller's Ohio seat?
Ohio's 7th District backed Donald Trump by about 11 points in 2024, but a June GBAO poll for Democratic-aligned interests showed Miller at 44 percent and Democrat Brian Poindexter at 43 percent among 500 likely voters, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 points. The Cook Political Report moved the race from Solid Republican to Likely Republican. The New York Times reported concern inside Trump's political operation and the White House; Miller told the Times, “Texas is turning blue like I'm losing my seat.”