In a dramatic turn of events, Congressman Max Miller, who has received backing from former President Donald Trump, is embroiled in a public dispute with his former spouse. The controversy, which involves serious accusations of domestic violence, has intensified as it involves notable political figures in Ohio.
The situation took a new development when Emily Moreno, Miller’s ex-wife and the daughter of Republican Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno, came forward with allegations of physical abuse. She claims that Miller assaulted her on multiple occasions, even in the presence of their young child. These allegations were initially reported by the Daily Mail.
One particularly disturbing incident reportedly involves Miller allegedly throwing boiling water on Emily during an argument in June 2024. The incident purportedly left visible red marks on her skin, with photographs of the injuries subsequently published by the Daily Mail.
In response to these allegations, Miller has filed a defamation lawsuit against Emily, asserting that the claims are false. Furthermore, he has accused Senator Bernie Moreno of financially supporting his daughter’s efforts to damage his reputation.
Emily has countered by filing a legal motion that provides additional information about the alleged hot water incident. In a recent affidavit submitted to a court in Cuyahoga, Ohio, she asserts that the altercation occurred after she informed Miller of her intention to end their relationship in June 2024.
In an affidavit filed this week in a Cuyahoga, Ohio court, Emily claims Miller threw hot water on her after she told him in June 2024 that she planned to leave him.
Miller was cooking breakfast eggs on a hot pan before he became enraged, according to the filing. The motion states that Miller threw hot water from the pan onto her, causing her to fall to the floor. He then allegedly pulled out the sink nozzle and sprayed more water on her.
Notably, the motion argues that Miller effectively corroborated parts of the account himself. It points to a May 12, 2026 deposition of the court-appointed parenting coordinator, Deborah Koricke, who testified that Miller confirmed in October 2024 that he sprayed Moreno with the sink hose. Koricke testified that while he never said the water was hot, he admitted to spraying her with it.
Trump-endorsed Congressman Max Miller’s violent public showdown with his ex-wife, the daughter of a fellow GOP Ohio Senator, over domestic violence allegations has taken a shocking new twist
Miller was cooking breakfast eggs on a hot pan before he became enraged, according to the filing The motion states that Miller threw hot water from the pan onto her, causing her to fall to the floor
Miller has since sued Emily for defamation over the abuse allegations and has accused her father, Republican Senator Bernie Moreno, of ‘funding’ his daughter’s effort to ‘ruin his life’
The motion also notes that Moreno reported the abuse over a period of months, including to Bay Village police in February 2026, framing this as inconsistent with Miller’s claim that she fabricated the allegations to gain leverage in their custody fight or damage his reelection campaign.
Moreno is also asking the local Ohio judge to dismiss the Congressman’s defamation lawsuit, in part because she argues the allegations published by the Daily Mail are ‘true or substantially true.’
‘The legal actions Max Miller has taken against his ex-wife are without merit, and he voluntarily dismissed his petition for a Civil Protection Order against her just days before it was set to be heard,’ Moreno’s attorney told the Daily Mail.
‘Instead, he has sued her, me, and my law firm in an improper and unconstitutional attempt to silence us. Mr. Miller is also attempting – again – to disqualify me and my law firm from representing his ex-wife, yet he refused to proceed with a hearing on the motion today although he requested an expedited hearing.’
After the hot water incident allegedly occurred, Moreno states that she took the couple’s toddler and fled to her parents’ home.
Her motion also includes a note that the Daily Mail reported first, where Miller apologizes to Emily because he ‘failed’ to protect her.
‘I do know you love me, protect me, and care for me. I failed to do that for you,’ he allegedly wrote in the letter dated June 2024. ‘I’m sorry I failed you and [daughter]. …I’m so sorry.’
Miller has faced physical assault allegations from previous partners, including former Trump White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham
The pair reached a divorce settlement in June 2025 and agreed to joint custody of their daughter, as well as $2,500 per month in child support from Miller
Miller’s legal team initially denied the existence of the letter, a claim that was noted in Moreno’s motion.
‘It had nothing to do with this fake incident she is now alleging,’ Miller’s spokesperson said to a local Ohio outlet. ‘Attempting to recast a family disagreement as something far more sinister is a complete distortion of the truth.’
Moreno’s lawyer also asked the judge to dismiss Miller’s lawsuit, citing a recently passed state law designed to shield Ohio citizens from litigation that seeks to punish those for speaking out on matters of public concern.
‘This is the latest example of Congressman Miller seeking to silence and intimidate a woman who has information about his behavior,’ Moreno’s attorney said in a statement.
Miller is arguing that the defamation lawsuit is necessary to protect the ‘privacy’ of the couple’s young daughter.
‘Congressman Miller’s lawsuit was filed to address false and defamatory accusations that caused serious personal, professional, and political harm — not to silence anyone,’ Miller’s spokesperson told the Daily Mail.
Miller’s spokesperson called Moreno’s dismissal effort little more than a legal and PR maneuver aimed at deflecting from the real question: ‘Whether false statements were knowingly made and weaponized during an intensely personal family dispute.’
Miller has faced physical assault allegations from previous partners, including former Trump White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham.
Miller is arguing that the defamation lawsuit is necessary to protect the ‘privacy’ of the couple’s young daughter
Miller’s relationship with Grisham came to an end in 2020 when he allegedly pushed her against a wall and slapped her after she accused him of cheating, according to a Politico report.
In October 2021, Grisham wrote an op-ed for the Washington Post claiming that the Trumps ‘didn’t seem to care’ when she told them her relationship with Miller had turned ‘abusive.’
Miller filed a libel suit against Grisham in 2021 over the allegations, but it was later dismissed with prejudice before reaching a jury trial.
