Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio, took to social media on Sunday in an attempt to clear his name against domestic abuse allegations made by his ex-wife, prompting his former father-in-law, Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, to issue a public condemnation of Miller.

“I categorically deny abusing my former wife,” Miller said in a live-streamed video on X, claiming to have a 2024 sworn statement from his former wife in which she said her ex-husband did not harm their child.

Miller’s announcement came in response to reports on his bitter custody battle with his former wife, policy adviser Emily Moreno, who is the daughter of Sen. Moreno. Miller, who was first elected to the House in 2022, and Moreno divorced in December 2025, which Miller called “amicable.” But he accused her of “engaging in a pattern of reporting incredibly serious and destructive allegations with absolutely no evidence.”

Moreno, the Ohio senator, issued a lengthy and forceful statement on social media, saying, in part: “As a father and husband, I can tell you the last two years have been pure hell for my wife Bridget, our daughter Emily, me, and our entire family in the aftermath of Emily’s divorce. It has been horrific to watch this play out in full public view, all while knowing an innocent two-year-old girl is caught in the middle. Our priority has always been protecting our daughter and our granddaughter. Out of concern for the safety of my family, I hoped to keep this matter private but Max Miller’s increasingly erratic and dangerous behavior has made that impossible.”

The GOP senator also alleged that his former son-in-law “needs to seek professional help to end the clear pattern of abuse he has left in his wake” and that he should not serve in the House of Representatives.

Miller is a top target of Democrats, who see a chance to flip his seat in his northeast Ohio congressional seat amid the swirling controversy and calls for a House ethics investigation into the allegations. He handily won his race two years ago by an 11-point margin.

Miller said in his video: “Unfortunately, those private disputes have been turned into public spectacle, and now I have to address them.” He also said he would not abandon his reelection campaign.

After speaking for nearly 20-minutes, he publicly released files, including messages between him and his former wife.

“Do yourselves a favor, ladies and gentleman: take a look at the documents. Take a look at the actual evidence that we have sent you,” he said. “Do your homework. Do your research, because when you do, you will find that you really have done a lot of damage to a really good family who didn’t deserve it.”

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Erum Salam

Erum Salam is a breaking news reporter for MS NOW, with a focus on how global events and foreign policy shape U.S. politics. She previously was a breaking news reporter for The Guardian.