Trump-backed Republican Congressman Max Miller is facing an intense legal battle alongside one of the toughest political challenges of his career.
Miller’s re-election campaign has been engulfed in a new level of nastiness after his Democratic opponent, Brian Poindexter, put out a new political ad that highlights abuse allegations that have been levied against him by his ex-wife, Emily Moreno.
An advertisement from Poindexter features a female police officer who says she spent 34 years in law enforcement. She lists allegations against Miller, several of which were first reported by the Daily Mail, and concludes: “Max Miller does not belong in power.”
Miller has repeatedly and emphatically rejected every abuse allegation made against him by Moreno.
The congressional race has become increasingly competitive as more allegations have emerged. On August 10, the Cook Political Report downgraded the contest from “likely Republican” to “toss up.”
Miller’s attorney, Alejandro Brito, has demanded that Ohio news station WKYC remove the advertisement, arguing that it contains “false, malicious, and defamatory statements,” according to a cease-and-desist letter obtained by Politico.
Poindexter addressed the legal threat in a follow-up video, saying Miller “is threatening to sue because he doesn’t want people to hear the facts.”
“His family says they hold their breath every minute he has custody of his child,” Poindexter added.
Poindexter also accused Miller of relying on wealth and high-priced attorneys to avoid consequences throughout his life. “Not this time,” he said. His campaign is urging supporters to help keep the advertisement on air through additional donations.
Ohio Republican Max Miller is confronting difficult legal and political battles this fall
Poindexter’s advertisement shows a female officer who says she has 34 years of law-enforcement experience listing allegations against Miller before declaring that he should not remain in power
Emily Moreno has accused Max Miller of abusing her and their young daughter, allegations he has denied
Ohio Republican Senator Bernie Moreno, Emily Moreno’s father, ended months of silence in August by calling for his former son-in-law to resign. He said Miller should not serve in public office.
“He is a danger to my daughter, and I hold my breath every minute he has custody of my granddaughter,” Moreno said.
Miller has also faced accusations from former girlfriend Stephanie Grisham, who previously served as White House press secretary.
Miller sued Grisham for defamation in late 2021 over her abuse allegations. The case later concluded with a confidential settlement that included a mutual agreement not to disparage one another.
The Daily Mail first reported Moreno’s allegations against Miller in May, including photographs of injuries she said resulted from an incident in which he threw scalding water at her.
Although Miller has denied Moreno’s claims of abuse, he later acknowledged using illegal drugs.
Moreno accused Miller of drug use in a previously undisclosed collection of audio recordings involving the two, which Miller himself released.
Moreno said the alleged drug use was the “impetus” for her decision to leave the marriage. Miller denied using drugs in the recordings.
He later told CNN’s Jake Tapper that he had used testosterone therapy.
The admission came when Tapper asked about photographs of needles that Moreno took, allegedly by Miller’s bedside, that the Daily Mail first published.
This image appears to have been taken by Emily Moreno inside the home she shared with Miller, a source familiar with the matter told the Daily Mail
Miller appeared on CNN Tuesday for an interview with Jake Tapper
In his lengthy video, Miller also levied an accusation that Moreno ‘has struggled with significant mental health challenges.’ Her spokesperson fought back against the claims.
Miller has also been called to resign and drop out of his congressional race by Ohio’s other GOP Senator John Husted, who is in a tough re-election fight of his own this fall.
‘I believe Max would be making the right decision to step aside as a candidate and resign from Congress to focus on what is in the best interest of his daughter,’ Husted noted back in August.
He did not drop out of the race, and instead doubled down on his innocence.
Neither Miller’s lawyer nor his political campaign responded to the Daily Mail’s requests for comment.
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