Domestic abuse allegations against Republican Representative Max Miller of Ohio have led Democrats to call for a House ethics investigation — a formal review by a congressional committee that checks whether lawmakers broke rules. A prominent anti-gun violence group has also demanded his resignation. The allegations, detailed in a July 30, 2026 Guardian report, come from two women: Miller's ex-wife, conservative policy adviser Emily Moreno, and former girlfriend Stephanie Grisham, who served as White House press secretary during Donald Trump's first administration.

Miller, 37, represents Ohio's seventh congressional district and is actively campaigning for re-election. The allegations and the lawsuits flying back and forth add major uncertainty to his race and bring two politically connected women into the spotlight.

The Marriage and Custody Fight

Moreno and Miller married in 2022, share a two-year-old daughter, and have been in a custody legal battle since 2024. Earlier in 2026, while a defamation lawsuit Miller filed against her was underway, Moreno testified that Miller threw hot water from an egg-cooking pan at her. She also accused him of holding a gun to her head, a claim first reported by the New York Times on July 28. The allegations also include claims that Miller possibly injured their child, as noted in a July 30 Mother Jones report.

In June 2026, Miller told Spectrum News that the allegations were false. He stated his divorce was finalized on December 18, 2025, and noted that no police reports were ever filed.

The Grisham Allegations

Grisham, who dated Miller from 2019 to 2020, wrote about an abusive relationship with a former partner in an October 5, 2021 Washington Post op-ed without naming him at the time. She later confirmed she was referring to Miller. Miller sued Grisham for defamation (a lawsuit claiming someone made false statements that damaged your reputation) but later dropped it as part of a confidential settlement — a private deal whose terms are kept secret. Grisham has since filed a new lawsuit against Miller saying he violated the settlement through comments he made to Spectrum News, according to the Guardian. Cleveland.com and the Ohio Capital Journal both reported on this lawsuit in July 2026.

The Senator's Involvement

The conflict also involves Senator Bernie Moreno, Emily Moreno's father and the Republican US Senator for Ohio. In May 2026, Miller posted on X that the senator 'continues to fund and enable his daughter's malicious campaign to ruin my life.' Bernie Moreno's spokesperson told the Guardian that the senator's top priority is the safety and well-being of his daughter and granddaughter, and that he will not litigate these matters in the media.

A prominent anti-gun violence group called for Miller's resignation following the allegation involving a firearm. The Guardian reported the call without specifying the group's size or political influence.

Facts vs. Allegations

It helps to sort what is documented from what is alleged. Because no police reports were ever filed, the evidence comes down to civil lawsuits, sworn testimony given in court, and public statements.

The broader picture is what all of this could mean going forward. The combination of a custody dispute, multiple lawsuits, and a secret settlement creates a complicated paper trail that an ethics committee would need to sort through. The involvement of Grisham, who publicly broke with Trump, and Moreno, whose father is a sitting US Senator, adds political weight to the situation.

The new Grisham lawsuit over the settlement violation, if it goes to court, could expose details that were meant to stay private. The core tension is between court documents that can be checked and personal accounts that are disputed. The Guardian article pulls together earlier reporting from the New York Times and Spectrum News, showing how these disclosures built up over time. With Miller's re-election campaign underway, the main consequences are the legal risk from the pending lawsuit and the political pressure from the call for an ethics investigation.