Senator Bernie Moreno and Congressman Max Miller traded blows on social media Sunday, with the former Ohio Republican accusing the latter of abusing his daughter, allegations the congressman denies.
For weeks, Miller has been dogged with rumors that he was abusive towards his ex-wife, Emily, Moreno’s daughter. On Saturday, Miller announced on X that he would make a public statement Sunday morning, which took the form of a livestream in which he denied the accusations against him, including a claim that he had thrown hot water on Emily Moreno. Miller dismissed the incident as “horseplay,” saying the water was not as hot as alleged. Miller also said that child welfare agencies had found accusations he had abused the couple’s two-year-old daughter “unsubstantiated.”
“I’m not getting out of this race, and I’m winning in November,” said Miller, who faces a tight re-election race in November.
In response, Moreno said that he feared for his daughter and granddaughter when they were with Miller, and argued that the congressman’s actions rendered him unfit for public office.
“As a father and husband, I can tell you the last two years have been pure hell for my wife Bridget, our daughter Emily, me, and our entire family in the aftermath of Emily’s divorce,” Moreno wrote in a lengthy statement on X. “It has been horrific to watch this play out in full public view, all while knowing an innocent two-year-old girl is caught in the middle.”
As a father and husband, I can tell you the last two years have been pure hell for my wife Bridget, our daughter Emily, me, and our entire family in the aftermath of Emily’s divorce.
It has been horrific to watch this play out in full public view, all while knowing an innocent…
— Bernie Moreno (@berniemoreno) August 2, 2026
“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,” Moreno continued.
“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. I believe Max Miller needs to seek professional help to end the clear pattern of abuse he has left in his wake. I believe he should not be free to continue endangering others until he does,” he added.
Miller responded by sharing a number of files he said would substantiate his claims. He also fired back at Moreno, saying “If my daughter said the same thing to me, I personally wouldn’t wait two years before holding him accountable.”
“You know this isn’t true and the only reason you are speaking out now is to hide from your own media circus,” Miller added. “This is all political.”
The family struggle has a political dimension, as both Moreno and Miller are strong allies of President Donald Trump. Trump endorsed Moreno in his 2024 Senate race, and Miller in his current re-election bid. The Times reports that some close to Trump are worried about Miller’s decision to publicly attack Moreno, which they think could imperil his chances at winning in November. Republicans have until Wednesday to replace Miller on the ballot, should they so choose.
Emily Moreno alleges that, during their marriage, Miller slammed her against the wall, held a gun to her head, and broke their daughter’s collarbone. Emily Moreno has since filed a restraining order against Miller, according to the New York Times, which also reports that the senator’s daughter is petitioning to end her shared parenting agreement with Miller. The case is expected to go to court in November.
Miller responded in his own court filings by calling his ex-wife “mentally ill,” and claiming that she was the one putting their daughter at risk. He also took the argument public, telling Spectrum News that she “sadly isn’t all there” and claiming in court that she was actively engaged in a smear campaign against him.
Telling the court that Moreno owned at least one firearm, Miller claimed that he feared for his own personal safety. He also asserted that their daughter’s broken collarbone had been the result of Moreno’s driving.
“It is shameful that Max Miller decided to go on a bizarre and lie-filled rant about his ex-wife to desperately try to save his political career,” Emily Moreno’s spokesman, Stefan Mychajliw, said in a statement Sunday. “There is a documented trove of evidence that Miller has a history of violent and dangerous behavior and no amount of victim shaming will change that.”
“It is despicable and abhorrent that Miller lied on an unhinged and humiliating video for their daughter to watch one day,” the statement went on. “No loving parent would have ever used their daughter as a PR pawn to save their own political career.”
