Rep. Max Miller (R-OH) is plagued with appalling allegations of domestic violence, but he is defiant in the face of calls to resign.
Miller "has been accused by his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, of domestic abuse against her and their 2-year-old daughter," noted The New York Times, with claims including that he "scalded her chest and stomach by throwing hot water from a skillet at her body; held a gun to her head; pushed her against a wall and hit her head; and fractured their daughter’s collarbone and bruised her shoulder." Moreno is the daughter of incumbent Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH).
Not only does Miller continue to deny these claims, but he also swats aside the growing speculation that the scandal could endanger Republican control of his congressional district, which includes the southern suburbs and exurbs of Cleveland.
Miller lashed out "in a series of text messages in which he threatened to block a reporter’s number for seeking comment about the matter," according to the report. In the text chain, he wrote, “Texas is turning blue like I’m losing my seat. Take a hike. After I win by more than my district, don’t bother ever contacting me again. You’re disgusting.”
He has further attacked his ex-wife, claiming that, far from being an abuse victim, she is a mentally ill stalker and liar who has endangered his family and made constant false reports to child services. He has gone so far as to file a defamation lawsuit against her.
Despite the nature of the allegations and the speculation that Republicans might seek to replace Miller on the ballot, few GOP leaders have spoken publicly on the matter.
Writing for Zeteo News, reporter Prem Thakker speculated they are unlikely to break their silence because it would throw further attention onto the abuse allegations plaguing GOP lawmakers up and down the ballot, including President Donald Trump himself.