Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) escalated his bitter custody battle on Wednesday by filing a defamation lawsuit against his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, accusing her of spreading false claims that he physically abused her. The lawsuit, filed in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, targets Moreno—daughter of Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio)—as well as the Cleveland law firm Zashin Law and its founder, Andrew Zashin, for allegedly coordinating a media campaign to damage Miller’s reputation.
Miller and Moreno filed for divorce in August 2024 and have been locked in a contentious fight over their young daughter. According to the lawsuit, Moreno worked with Zashin Law to leak statements to outlets like The Daily Beast, the New York Post, TMZ, and the Daily Mail, claiming Miller threw boiling water at her in front of their child. The suit seeks compensatory damages exceeding $25,000, attorney fees, and punitive damages to deter similar conduct.
“These false, malicious, and defamatory statements wrongly and dishonestly claim that Plaintiff committed battery on Moreno by hurling boiling water on her – in front of their minor daughter,” the lawsuit states. It also addresses a 2025 investigation by the Cuyahoga County Division of Children and Family Services into allegations that Miller abused their daughter, which was closed after being deemed unsubstantiated.
Miller, who denies any wrongdoing, framed the accusations as a smear campaign. “These allegations are simply an attempt to destroy my personal and professional reputation,” he said in a statement. “I look forward to bringing the truth to light in court.” In a post on X, he further accused Sen. Bernie Moreno of funding “his daughter’s malicious campaign to ruin my life despite his knowledge of her mental health issues.”
A spokesperson for Emily Moreno pushed back, telling Cleveland.com that Miller is “upset because his ex-wife will not let him silence her.” The Hill has reached out to Bernie Moreno’s office and Zashin Law for comment but has not yet received responses.
This is not Miller’s first legal battle over abuse allegations. In 2021, he sued former Trump White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham after she wrote a Washington Post op-ed describing an abusive relationship with a White House aide—widely understood to be Miller. Grisham wrote that President Trump and first lady Melania Trump were aware of the abuse. Miller’s attorney at the time argued an independent investigation would find “no proof” of abuse and claimed Grisham was retaliating after Miller ended their relationship and became engaged to Moreno. Miller voluntarily dropped that lawsuit in 2023.
The latest case adds to a pattern of defamation suits in political circles, echoing similar legal strategies used by figures like former President Donald Trump. For context, a recent appeals court rejected Trump’s bid to overturn an $83 million defamation verdict in a separate case. Meanwhile, the House Ethics Committee has intensified its probe into Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) over dating violence allegations, highlighting ongoing scrutiny of lawmakers’ personal conduct.
As the custody battle continues, Miller’s lawsuit underscores the high stakes for both parties. The outcome could shape not only their family’s future but also the political fortunes of two Ohio Republicans with national profiles.
