Rep. Max Miller of Ohio is facing mounting criticism from his ex-father-in-law, Sen. Bernie Moreno, amid an ongoing custody dispute involving Miller, his ex-wife Emily Moreno, and their two-year-old daughter. Moreno has accused Miller of holding the child’s stuffed animal “hostage” for two days last week, describing the congressman’s behavior as exhibiting “total and complete depravity.”
Moreno, a fellow Republican, publicly called on Miller to resign from Congress over allegations of abusive conduct toward Emily Moreno and their daughter. He said the family has endured extreme distress due to Miller’s actions, stating that he had to intervene by picking up his granddaughter at a police station in Bay Village, a suburb of Cleveland, because of safety concerns. According to Moreno, Miller refused to return the child’s favorite toy, a small blue bunny, for 48 hours, which caused the girl to cry at night due to its absence. Miller eventually returned the stuffed animal on the same day a collection of digital files was released by his attorney that included a shirtless photo of the child—a move Moreno condemned as highly inappropriate and illegal, calling for accountability for those who disseminated the image.
The custody battle has intensified since Miller filed for divorce in August 2024 and subsequently filed a defamation lawsuit against his ex-wife in May over her abuse allegations. During a recent interview with CNN, Miller denied all accusations of physical or emotional abuse toward his daughter. When questioned about the stuffed animal incident, Miller flatly denied holding the toy “hostage.” He also expressed regret over the release of the shirtless photo, attributing responsibility to his attorney and asserting that there was no intent to harm.
Miller further faced questions on accusations from three women, including former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham, alleging violent behavior. He denied these claims, labeling them as false, though he did not provide detailed refutations. Miller referenced former President Donald Trump’s experience with multiple scandals as context for handling public allegations and acknowledged a recent call from Trump, who cautioned that Miller’s upcoming election race would be challenging.
Sen. Moreno criticized Miller for what he characterizes as a “publicity tour” rather than addressing the family’s issues privately. He also urged Miller to seek psychological help, emphasizing the fear his daughter reportedly feels toward her father. The dispute underlines a bitter and highly publicized custody conflict, raising questions about the congressman’s personal conduct and its impact on his political career.