Emily Moreno, daughter of Sen. Bernie Moreno, filed a new restraining order against her ex-husband, Rep. Max Miller, following a courtroom altercation.
Courtroom Altercation Triggers New Restraining Order Against Rep. Max Miller
Moreno, a conservative policy adviser and the daughter of U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno, filed the request following a heated hearing in Cuyahoga County. The filing alleges that Miller physically grabbed one of her attorneys, Andrew Zashin, during an encounter as they left the courtroom and directed a profane slur at Zashin’s fiancee.
The filing adds to an extraordinary volume of litigation surrounding the 37-year-old two-term congressman. Just days prior, the New York Post noted that a domestic violence petition Miller initially filed against Moreno in February 2026 was formally dismissed by Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court Judge Debra Boros. The judge concluded that the lawmaker had not been threatened or made to fear for his safety. Miller had moved to drop that case in May, though the dismissal was not granted until Wednesday.
Custody Disputes, Police Reports, and Escalating Allegations
The former couple shares a two-year-old daughter and has been locked in a bitter custody battle since 2024 as reported by The Guardian. Court documents and police records obtained through public records requests detail a series of severe accusations spanning their marriage, which began in 2022 and ended with a finalized divorce on December 18, 2025.
Among the records examined by Mother Jones in an extensive profile are allegations that Miller threw hot water from a pan at Moreno, shoved her, and held a gun to her head. Moreno also raised child abuse concerns after their toddler sustained a broken collarbone and bruised shoulder in February. While a child protection specialist reviewing the case noted that bruising near the fracture resembled a handprint, a police investigation into potential child abuse was ultimately unsubstantiated due to insufficient evidence.
“They’re false allegations. Our divorce was finalized on December 18 in 2025. No police reports were ever filed.”
Max Miller, U.S. Representative
Miller has vehemently denied all accusations of violence. Addressing his critics, Miller pointed out that his ex-wife had been with him every single day during the election and maintained that the claims are politically motivated to damage his reelection bid in Ohio’s seventh congressional district. Campaign spokesperson Abigail Angelos defended the congressman’s standing, stating that the court continues to permit him joint custody of his child and that he will vigorously defend his reputation against reckless allegations.
Congressional Ethics Calls and Outside Pressure Mount
The fallout has crossed from state courtrooms into the halls of Congress. Democratic leaders, led by House Democratic Women’s Caucus Chairwoman Leger Fernandez alongside vice chairs Hillary Scholten and Emilia Sykes, formally called on the House Committee on Ethics to launch a swift and thorough investigation into Miller.
Individual lawmakers joined the push for accountability. Representative Sam Liccardo wrote on social media that the allegations demand an immediate probe, stating that Congress must never serve as a safe harbor for abusers
. Representative Gwen Moore, a survivor of domestic violence who spoke with Mother Jones, expressed deep concern regarding the claims surrounding the couple’s two-year-old daughter.
Outside advocacy also intensified when Giffords, the gun violence prevention organization, demanded Miller’s immediate resignation or expulsion from the House.
“Congress is no place for violent abusers who attack their family and hold a gun to their wife’s head. Max Miller needs to resign now – and if he refuses, the House should expel him.”
Emma Brown, Executive Director of Giffords
Meanwhile, Miller’s former girlfriend, Stephanie Grisham, who served as White House press secretary during Donald Trump’s first administration, has also accused him of abuse dating back to their relationship between 2019 and 2020. Grisham filed a new lawsuit alleging Miller violated a confidential settlement stemming from an earlier defamation dispute. Miller’s campaign countered that Grisham’s allegations coincided with a book launch.
The Stakes Ahead for Ohio’s Seventh District
As Miller campaigns to retain his congressional seat, the controversy presents a major test for his political future. No Republican members of Congress have called for an investigation or punishment, including Senator Bernie Moreno, whose office released a statement emphasizing family protection without engaging in public litigation.
On the Democratic side, challenger Brian Poindexter criticized the incumbent congressman, telling reporters that if the accusations are substantiated, Miller belongs in jail rather than in Congress. With a restraining order motion pending in Cuyahoga County and an unyielding custody dispute ongoing, both the legal and political dimensions of the case remain unresolved heading into the November elections.
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