A Republican congressman was accused of trying to bait his estranged wife's attorney into a fight earlier this month during a courthouse confrontation.
Rep. Max Miller (R-OH) is embroiled in a bitter divorce proceeding, and ex-wife Emily Moreno's legal team alleged that he approached her attorney Andrew Zashin following a May 7 pretrial hearing as his own legal team attempted to calm him down, reported the New York Post.
“[Miller] referenced Attorney Zashin’s fiancée by name, stated that she was ‘not much of a looker,’ or similar language, and further insinuated that she was a prostitute by claiming that he could find lots of women like Attorney Zashin’s fiancée on a street corner for $10,” Moreno’s legal team alleged in a court filing. “[The congressman] was very clearly trying to provoke Attorney Zashin and incite a confrontation between the two individuals."
“Attorney Zashin did begin to turn around to reasonably request that [Miller’s] Attorney [Larry] Zuckerman control his client," the filing added. “[Miller] continued to goad Attorney Zashin into a confrontation by saying ‘Come at me!’ or similar language. Attorney Zashin did not engage and exited the Courthouse.”
The couple married in 2022 and divorced two years later, and they share custody of a 2-year-old daughter.
Moreno's legal team cited the courthouse confrontation in a brief arguing for a restraining order against the congressman.
“Max Miller’s public meltdown is becoming increasingly concerning and embarrassing as he spirals completely out of control,” Moreno spokesperson Stefan Mychajliw told The Post. “His latest incident, attempting to start a fight with a lawyer in a courthouse, shows just how erratic and unstable he has become. Emily remains committed to reaching a peaceful resolution out of the public eye, both for her safety and his.”
A Miller-aligned source told the publication that the lawmaker was defending his girlfriend and was angry about Zashin’s previous comments about her, including an alleged reference to a sex act.
“Was it the best choice of words?” the source said. “No, but I think anyone who is defending their spouse or their loved one who’s under attack for no reason [will get emotional].”
Moreno has accused Miller of shoving her during a Feb. 1 custody exchange, which he has denied, and he recently sued his former spouse for defamation over abuse allegations.