Rep. Max Miller (R-OH) leaves a House Republican Caucus meeting on Capitol Hill on Nov. 19, 2024, in Washington, D.C.
Andrew Harnik | Getty Images
Republican Rep. Max Miller of Ohio called for the House Ethics Committee to investigate him after his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, accused him of domestic violence — an unusual move as the allegations threaten to engulf his reelection bid.
“In light of all the renewed interest in my family affairs I am going to file my own paperwork for an ethics investigation into myself to clear my name from these horrific attacks on myself and family,” Miller said in a post to X. “We will be providing the committee all necessary documents needed for a detail[ed] examination.”
The Ethics Committee, shortly after Miller’s statement, said it would investigate whether the Ohioan “may have engaged in domestic violence and abuse or illegal drug use in violation of the Code of Official Conduct or any other applicable standard of conduct.”
Miller calling for his own investigation is the latest twist in a cascading scandal that has rocked this year’s midterm elections to decide control of Congress for President Donald Trump’s final two years. Moreno, the daughter of Republican Ohio Sen. Bernie Moreno, alleges the congressman scalded her with hot water, held a gun to her head and broke their young daughter’s collarbone.
Miller has denied the allegations, posting a video over the weekend to defend himself and releasing a tranche of files that he said would clear his name.
He has also vowed to stay in the race for his reliably red seat, which could be put in play for Democrats by a serious scandal with less than three months before Election Day. The deadline for Miller to withdraw and be replaced on the ballot is Wednesday.
The files Miller posted also came under scrutiny by Emily Moreno’s legal team earlier Tuesday. The New York Times reported that her lawyers wrote to Miller’s legal team saying the Dropbox he shared included private photos of the pair’s daughter, including one where “the daughter’s genitals appear visible.”
Members do not typically ask the committee to investigate themselves, but Miller says that he has “absolutely nothing to hide.”