CNN anchor Jake Tapper challenged Rep. Max Miller (R-OH) as the lawmaker tried to defend himself against claims of abusing his ex-wife and daughter amid growing calls for him to resign.
Tapper pressed Miller to respond to the allegations and sought more information about what happened involving his 2-year-old daughter and former wife, Emily Moreno, daughter of Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH), who broke his silence this weekend over the ongoing legal battle.
"Congressman, I'm not talkingabout whether or not it waslegal or illegal to record yourex-wife," Tapper said. "I'm saying that thereason we didn't air it isbecause it was our understandingthat the recording was donewithout her permission. That'ssomething else. That'sdiscretion. That's journalism.That's not a question oflegality. But let's talk aboutit because there is a policereport from the suspected childabuse incident in Februaryinvolving your daughter."
Tapper discussed the child protection report that indicated Miller's daughter had a right clavicle fracture and "a bruisethat accompanies the injury thatappears to be in a handprint andappears to have been inflicted."
"Now, your ex-wifestated to police that your childtold her in the days leading upto the discovery of the injury, 'daddy, kill you,'" Tapper said. "And yourex-wife also said your child hadsaid, 'daddy angry and daddy'shouse is scary.' Now, accordingto your wife, your daughterarticulated these statements tochildren and family services. Socan you explain why your child may have said those things?"
Miller denied his daughter's statements and the abuse allegations.
"Jake, I wish you couldtalk to my beautiful baby girl," Miller said. "She can't string togethersentences like that. She's twoand a half years old. Shedoesn't have the ability toarticulate any of what you justsaid. That is an entirefabrication of the truth. I haveactual video. Actualdocumentation."
Tapper interjected and pushed back.
"But didn't youjust tell me that twoinvestigators told — you just told me that she had said that shewas scared to go to mommy'shouse," Tapper said.
"She is. And I have video ofit," Miller said.
Tapper didn't back down from Miller's claims.
"But now you're saying thatshe's not capable of saying,daddy kill you? I mean, it seemslike she's either able to sayone, but not the other," Tapper said. "That doesn't make sense."