House Speaker Mike Johnson sidestepped questions about domestic abuse allegations facing Rep. Max Miller on Friday, offering a terse response that reflected the political minefield Republicans are navigating over the Ohio congressman's deteriorating personal battle.
"I don't get involved in the personal lives of members," Johnson told NBC News. "He's refuted some of these allegations, and he's got to work that out."
Miller, in his second term and running for a third, stands at the center of an escalating legal and personal crisis. His ex-wife, Emily Moreno, has publicly alleged domestic abuse, including posting photographs she claims document injuries from physical violence. The two were married in 2022 at Trump National Golf Club in New Jersey and divorced in June.
Miller has categorically denied the claims and struck back with legal firepower. This week he filed a defamation lawsuit against Moreno in Cleveland, along with her attorney Andrew Zashin and his law firm, alleging they orchestrated a campaign to damage his reputation by feeding false allegations to outlets including the Daily Mail and New York Post.
"The false allegations against me come amidst a personal custody dispute and are simply an attempt to destroy my personal and professional reputation," Miller posted on X. "I look forward to bringing the truth to light in court."
The dispute has pulled in unexpected players. Moreno is the daughter of Sen. Bernie Moreno, also a Republican from Ohio. Miller has accused the senator of funding his daughter's campaign and distancing her from what he called mental health issues. The senator's office declined to comment Friday.
Moreno's spokesperson, Stefan Mychajliw, rejected the defamation case as intimidation. He pointed to Miller's history with similar allegations, referencing former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham, who accused Miller of domestic abuse during Trump's first term. Miller sued Grisham over her allegations, which appeared in her post-White House book, and voluntarily dismissed the suit in 2023 while denying wrongdoing.
"Mr. Miller is running the same playbook against a woman with photographs of her bruises and burns," Mychajliw told the AP. "Mr. Miller will not silence Ms. Moreno."
Police records obtained by NBC News show an officer was dispatched to the Miller home in late February following a call involving a child protection specialist from the Cuyahoga County Division of Children and Family Services regarding "suspected child abuse." The Bay Village Police Department report did not identify the individuals involved. Police confirmed the investigation remains ongoing but provided no additional details.
Miller's legal team has claimed the county found no evidence of child abuse or neglect, though that assertion has not been independently verified by news outlets.
Trump's endorsement of Miller for re-election, posted May 5, suggests the allegations have not damaged Miller's standing with the former president and current political kingmaker. "Max Miller has my Complete and Total Endorsement," Trump wrote, citing Miller's Marine service and work in the first Trump administration.
Author Sarah Mitchell: "Speaker Johnson's deflection speaks volumes about how Republicans plan to handle this: wait it out and hope the courts settle it before voters decide."
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