Bernie Moreno says Max Miller should not serve in the House

Ohio Sen. Bernie Moreno said Rep. Max Miller, his former son-in-law, should not serve in the House of Representatives. The public break between Bernie Moreno and Max Miller adds to scrutiny of Miller’s reelection campaign as he contests abuse allegations made by Moreno’s daughter, Emily Moreno, during their unresolved custody dispute.

In an Aug. 2 post on X, the Republican senator said Miller “needs serious psychological help” and called him a danger to Emily Moreno. Moreno said he believed Miller should seek professional help to end what he described as a pattern of abuse. Those are Moreno’s characterizations, not findings established in the reporting.

Moreno wrote that his family had tried to keep the matter private, but said Miller’s behavior had made that impossible. He also said he worried when Miller had custody of his granddaughter.

What did Bernie Moreno say about Max Miller?

Moreno said Miller should not serve in the House and should seek professional help. His statement followed Miller’s public response to allegations by Emily Moreno, who is Miller’s former wife and the senator’s daughter.

According to CBS News, Emily Moreno has made accusations in court papers and police reports that Miller abused her and their young daughter. The couple’s legal fight is ongoing, and they have court-ordered restraining orders against each other, CBS reported.

Miller has denied abusing either his former wife or daughter. In a livestream on X, he said the allegations were false and said he would remain in his campaign for another House term. He released documents that he said support his defense.

CBS reported that Miller pointed to an April letter from county investigators that closed a probe into alleged physical abuse of his daughter as unsubstantiated. That description concerns that investigation; it does not resolve the wider custody dispute or the other allegations described in the reporting.

Emily Moreno’s spokesperson, Stefan Mychajliw, rejected Miller’s account, calling his livestream shameful and lie-filled. The spokesperson said there was evidence of violent and dangerous conduct, a claim Miller disputes.

Miller said he would not withdraw from the race. Fortune, citing Associated Press reporting, said his statement came before a Wednesday deadline for Republicans to replace him on the ballot.

• Moreno publicly said Miller should not serve in the House.
• Miller denied the allegations and said he would continue his reelection bid.
• The underlying custody and legal dispute remained unresolved in the available reporting.

Readers can review Moreno’s Aug. 2 statement on X directly.

This story draws on original reporting from CNBC.