Rep. Max Miller's (R-OH) ex-wife and toddler child have gone into hiding amid an escalating custody battle that has made them afraid for their safety, her senator father said Thursday.
Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) told CNN's Jake Tapper that his daughter Emily and his granddaughter have left Ohio as the embattled congressman refuses to drop his re-election campaign — despite horrific domestic abuse allegations.
“I sent my daughter, granddaughter, and wife out of State to a secure place until such time as they feel safe," Moreno said, according to Tapper.
Emily Moreno has accused Miller of throwing her against a wall, holding a gun to her head and fracturing their 2-year-old daughter's collarbone, reports and court records show.
Miller denies abusing his ex-wife and their child and refuses to back down even as he acknowledged that President Donald Trump called him to express doubts about his ability to win in November.
"I am never going to give up," Miller said. "I will never ever let my baby girl see her daddy walk away as a quitter."
Miller's lawyer Aaron Minc this week was accused by Emily Moreno's attorneys of distributing a photo of their toddler that may constitute child sexual abuse material.
The lawyer posted a public Dropbox folder on Aug. 2 to rebut domestic abuse allegations that Moreno's lawyer Subodh Chandra said included a naked photo of the girl.
Miller went on CNN to discuss the files with Tapper, who slammed the Republican lawmaker for what he described as "shockingly reckless" behavior.
"I wouldn't say that it's shockingly reckless," said Miller. "That photo that was put in there is actually a part of an investigation by the child and family protective services."
"It's not publicly available, and your attorney apologized," Tapper pushed back.
"I'm not defending it," Miller replied. "It's awful."
"You just defended it!" Tapper shot back. "You said it was taken out of context."
To this, Miller replied, "Well, because it is."
