Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) escalated his public confrontation with his former son-in-law, Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio), demanding on Sunday that the congressman resign from the House in light of abuse allegations made by Moreno's daughter and concerning the safety of his granddaughter.
In a post on X, Moreno stated, "If there are any basic standards of character required to hold elected office, Max Miller fails them. He should not serve in the House of Representatives." He further asserted that Miller "needs to seek professional help to end the clear pattern of abuse he has left in his wake" and argued that Miller should not be free to endanger others until he does.
The senator's remarks follow a Friday exchange with NOTUS in which he declined to say whether Miller should remain on the ballot for his reelection. Moreno answered "I don't know" and did not elaborate at the time.
The controversy stems from court filings by Emily Moreno, the senator's daughter, who accused Miller of throwing hot water on her, holding a gun to her head, and breaking their daughter's collarbone. Miller has denied the allegations and countersued for defamation.
Moreno explained his decision to go public, saying, "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." He added, "As he has admitted privately, Max Miller needs serious psychological help. He is a danger to my daughter, and I hold my breath every minute he has custody of my granddaughter."
Miller fired back on X, questioning Moreno's timing: "if my daughter said the same thing to me, I personally wouldn't wait two years before holding him accountable." He characterized Moreno's statements as politically motivated, saying, "You know this isn't true and the only reason you are speaking out now is to hide from your own media circus. This is all political."
During a livestream on Sunday, Miller acknowledged the damage to his reputation, saying he had "been portrayed as an abusive husband, an abusive father and a violent man." He added, "Those allegations have damaged my reputation, caused enormous pain to my family and most importantly, it's affected our daughter."
The dispute has drawn attention from gun control advocates, with GIFFORDS demanding Miller's resignation earlier. The case also comes amid broader discussions in Congress about lawmaker conduct and accountability.
Moreno's call for resignation is notable given his previous reluctance to weigh in, and it raises questions about Miller's political future as he seeks reelection. The Ohio Republican Party has not yet commented on the matter.
