A court hearing for Rep. Max Miller (R-OH) opened Wednesday on an unplanned contempt motion minutes after the Trump-endorsed Republican congressman confronted the ex-wife he allegedly abused in a courthouse hallway.
The hearing in Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court was scheduled to address a written request for a restraining order against Miller, according to News 5 Cleveland. Emily Moreno has accused Miller of abuse during their marriage, including holding a gun to her head, CNN reported. He denies it.
Before the court reached that motion, Emily Moreno's attorney, Andrew Zashin, raised something that had happened outside the courtroom.
"In a hallway Max approached Emily and said words that were upsetting to her, and for that reason we asked for a motion for oral contempt, which the judge wouldn't go forward on," Zashin told the outlet.
Miller's attorneys then canvassed people in the hall, including a News 5 photographer, asking whether anyone had seen anything.
"We said 'Could we have your tape?' He said 'Subpoena it.' The tape will show Max didn't do anything," attorney Larry Zukerman said.
The News 5 reporter in the hall said no words were exchanged that the outlet witnessed. Miller has not denied the encounter himself.
The motion the court had convened to hear concerned a separate incident last month.
The two sides settled it themselves, News 5 reported, agreeing that neither party would contact the other's lawyers outside depositions, with future depositions at neutral sites.
"To the extent they claim victory, if by victory they mean Max avoids taking the stand, sure that's a victory, but he's running out of rope," Zashin said.
Mother Jones reporter Abby Vesoulis sought an interview with Miller at the courthouse. He initially agreed to speak with her before turning over questions to his lawyer.
"I was a part of that family for a very long time. There are certain things that he would like me to remain quiet about," Miller told Mother Jones, making a veiled threat to his former father-in-law, Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH).
Miller did not say what he meant. Bernie Moreno, who sat in the courtroom with his daughter, has called on Miller to leave Congress, and CNN reported that the judge had twice warned that emotions were no excuse for violating court orders.
"But really, what today showed me is that the animosity between these two families is intense and is continuing," Mother Jones reporter Abby Vesoulis said.
The parties are set to return to court next month, News 5 reported.
