Ohio Republican Rep. Max Miller is facing a growing number of accusations from multiple women, including his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, and former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham. Miller has categorically denied all allegations, and no criminal charges have been filed. He has asked the House Ethics Committee to investigate him, asserting he has “absolutely nothing to hide.”
In a tense interview with CNN's Jake Tapper, Miller rejected calls for his resignation and drew a direct parallel to President Donald Trump's political resilience. “In 2016, when President Donald J. Trump faced the most extreme allegations in the world… he stayed in and he was resilient,” Miller said, vowing to remain in the race. That comparison, however, underscores a broader shift within the Republican Party, where loyalty often trumps scrutiny.
Tapper pressed Miller on the specifics, noting that three women have accused him of violent behavior. He cited a Politico report from 2021 alleging that Miller, as a teenager, pushed a girl down stairs after she resisted his advances. The woman involved recently reiterated the account to Mother Jones, calling it “one of the more traumatic nights of her life.” Miller dismissed the claim, saying, “I was 13 years old,” and challenged the accuser to go on the record. Tapper countered that he was not finished listing the accusations, bringing up Grisham's detailed account of abuse in her book, and the temporary restraining order she filed against Miller in a defamation case. When asked if all three women—who do not know each other—are lying, Miller replied, “Yes, it's very easy, and I can tell you why.”
Despite Miller's defiance, even Trump appears to recognize the political danger. According to Axios, Trump privately called Miller and warned that “things aren't looking good” for his reelection. Publicly, Trump has offered support, calling Miller “a good person” and deferring to the families involved. But the private warning suggests that the president sees this as a serious problem—one that Republicans in Congress may be ignoring at their peril.
The silence from GOP leadership has been notable. House Speaker Mike Johnson has expressed doubt about Miller's future, but few others have publicly suggested he step aside while the Ethics Committee investigates. Miller's former father-in-law, Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno, has been a vocal critic, saying Miller “needs serious psychological help” and is “a danger” to his daughter. Yet Moreno's calls have largely gone unheeded by his colleagues.
This stands in stark contrast to how Democrats have handled similar situations. Historically, Democrats have shown a willingness to pressure their own members to resign when allegations become politically untenable, as seen with Graham Platner and Eric Swalwell. Republicans, meanwhile, have adopted a defensive posture, prioritizing loyalty over independent fact-finding. This bunker mentality is evident in the muted response to Miller's case, even as multiple accusers and a family member speak out.
Miller's decision to request an Ethics Committee investigation is not unprecedented. Former Rep. Charlie Rangel did the same in 2008, a move that backfired when he was censured for multiple ethics violations. Whether Miller's gamble will yield a different outcome remains to be seen, but the stakes are high not just for him, but for the GOP's broader reputation.
As the investigation unfolds, the question is whether Republicans will continue to circle the wagons or finally heed the warnings from within their own ranks. The public trust, after all, demands more than just avoiding criminal charges. It requires a standard of conduct that inspires confidence—something Miller's critics argue he has failed to meet.
