Miller calls for his own ethics probe following abuse allegations
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Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio, speaks during a news conference on June 26, 2024. Photo: Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
Embattled Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) said Tuesday that he'll file paperwork for an ethics investigation — into himself — amid a series of allegations involving his ex-wife.
The big picture: Miller, a former Trump aide in a competitive reelection race, is facing domestic abuse allegations, which he has denied.
What they're saying: "I have absolutely nothing to hide," Miller said in a Tuesday X post.
- "I am looking forward to my colleagues reading everything for themselves," Miller wrote, stating he'd provide the committee with "all necessary documents."
- On the same day, House Committee on Ethics leadership said in a statement that they're reviewing allegations that Miller "may have engaged in domestic violence and abuse or illegal drug use."
Catch up quick: Miller's call for a probe came after a lawyer for his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, demanded Miller explain why a sensitive photo of their now two-year-old daughter was included in a document dump he shared Sunday on social media.
- In a letter obtained by multiple outlets, Moreno's attorney Subodh Chandra writes that the photo "could be considered Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) because the daughter's genitals appear to be visible."
- Chandra demanded an explanation by the close of business on Wednesday about how and why the photo was shared, who removed it and why, and how many people accessed the image, among other inquiries.
- The documents also repeatedly named his daughter and provided a home address for Miller's ex-wife and daughter, Axios' Andrew Pantazi reports.
The other side: "In the course of assembling and publishing a large volume of documents, I was responsible for ensuring that any sensitive information was redacted and removed from the files," Aaron Minc, Miller's attorney, said in a statement provided to Axios.
- He apologized to Moreno, Miller and their daughter in the statement, saying he "deeply" regretted "the mistake." But he alleged Moreno and her counsel had made it into a "media spectacle."
Catch up quick: Miller denies the allegations that he threatened and abused Moreno and has sued her for defamation.
- "I'm not getting out of this race, and I'm winning in November," Miller said in a Sunday livestream.
- Shortly after Miller's announcement, Moreno's father, Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), denounced Miller as a "danger" to his daughter and unfit for office.
- On Tuesday, the senator told reporters that his daughter "lives in constant fear of this man."
Friction point: While President Trump has refrained from calling on him to drop out of the race, he phoned Miller Monday and expressed doubt about his candidacy, Axios' Alex Isenstadt and Marc Caputo reported.
In a separate case, lawyers for Stephanie Grisham — the former White House press secretary — filed a motion for a temporary restraining order Monday to block Miller from violating a previously agreed-upon settlement.
- After Grisham wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post in 2021 about an abusive ex-boyfriend in the Trump administration, Miller sued her for defamation.
- However, per Grisham's lawyers, the pair "agreed to refrain from making disparaging public statements about one another" in a deal for Miller to drop the case.
Go deeper: Scoop: Trump tells Max Miller his candidacy is in trouble
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional information throughout.
