Ohio Republican congressman Max Miller defended himself against domestic abuse allegations in an 18-minute video posted on X on August 6, 2026. His party has until August 12 to decide whether to replace him on the ballot. Miller, who is 37 and has served two terms in Congress, is accused by his ex-wife Emily Moreno of pouring hot water on her, pointing a gun at her head, and breaking their two-year-old daughter's collarbone. He denied the allegations and said they were the result of a campaign by left-wing media and his former wife to ruin his name. The Guardian

Miller and Moreno divorced in 2025 and are fighting over custody of their daughter. Moreno also said Miller physically attacked her lawyer and another legal representative, which led her to file for a restraining order — a court order that requires someone to stay away from another person — on her lawyer's behalf. The Guardian

The accusations have damaged Miller's relationships within his own party. Bernie Moreno, a Republican U.S. senator from Ohio, is Emily Moreno's father and Miller's former father-in-law. He posted on X calling for Miller to resign, writing, "He is a danger to my daughter, and I hold my breath every minute he has custody of my granddaughter." Miller was previously endorsed by Donald Trump in 2021 and worked as a presidential aide during Trump's first term. The Guardian

The allegations first appeared in a New York Times article on July 28, 2026. Government documents reported by Politico on August 1 laid out specific accusations, including that Miller poured hot water on Moreno, held a gun to her head, and broke their daughter's collarbone. Police reports also alleged that Miller threw the child. The New York Times Politico

Miller has filed defamation lawsuits — legal cases claiming someone spread false and damaging statements — against both Moreno and a second accuser, his ex-girlfriend. The lawsuit against Moreno cited her accusations that he was "a violent and abusive husband and father." Associated Press

Miller has said he is innocent. He pointed out that no court or agency has ever confirmed any allegation of abuse against him and that no criminal charge has ever been filed. He has said he has "nothing to hide" and is open to an ethics investigation, which is a formal review by a congressional committee that checks whether a member of Congress broke rules or laws. BBC The Guardian

The House Ethics Committee started an investigation into the allegations. A Republican senator also called for Miller to quit Congress. Despite the growing pressure, Miller has refused to drop his reelection campaign. Associated Press The Guardian Associated Press

President Trump has not called for Miller to resign, though reports suggest his support for Miller may be weakening. Miller defended himself on Jake Tapper's CNN show on Tuesday, comparing his situation to the sexual assault allegations Trump has faced. The Guardian

Pollsters suggested in June that Miller's congressional district leans Republican by five points. The Guardian Cook Political Report

The broader context here is that the Republican Party is caught between supporting a sitting congressman and dealing with serious, unproven allegations, all while a deadline approaches. The August 12 cutoff for the Ohio Republican Party to replace Miller on the ballot creates a very tight decision window. It is like a sports team deciding whether to keep a star player who has been accused of serious misconduct right before a trade deadline: keep the player and risk the fallout, or cut ties and scramble for a replacement with little time left.

Trump's refusal to call for Miller's resignation, while reports indicate his support may be fading, suggests he is keeping his options open without committing publicly. The House Ethics Committee investigation adds another layer, since it operates independently of the party's political calculations. What happens next depends on whether the state party acts before the deadline, how the Ethics Committee's investigation proceeds alongside the ongoing lawsuits, and how all of this affects other Republicans on the Ohio ballot — especially since a sitting U.S. senator from the same party has already publicly demanded that a House colleague step down.