Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) said Tuesday that his former son-in-law, Rep. Max Miller (R-OH), has put his family through "truly the seventh level of hell," speaking publicly for the first time about a custody dispute that includes allegations of domestic abuse and child endangerment.
In remarks to TMZ from a Capitol Hill hallway, Moreno addressed statements Miller made Sunday in which the congressman described Moreno's daughter as mentally ill — comments the senator said prompted him to break his silence after two years of keeping the matter private at his daughter's request. Emily Moreno has accused Miller of domestic abuse and child endangerment; Miller denies the allegations, has sued her for defamation, and has publicly claimed she suffers from mental illness.
What the Right Is Saying
Moreno said he believes Miller should not serve in Congress and "needs serious help," calling Miller's response to his comments "the ramblings of a madman." He described his daughter as living "in constant fear" of her ex-husband, recounted arranging a custody pickup at a police station because "I don't know what this guy's capable of," and said Miller initially refused to return their granddaughter's favorite blue bunny.
Moreno also alleged that photos of his granddaughter were released by Miller and his attorney while attempting to publish evidence for their side — conduct Moreno called potentially criminal, though Miller's attorney described the release as "completely unintentional."
Miller denied the allegations Tuesday, declaring his innocence and filing paperwork for an ethics investigation into himself. "The accusations continue to change, but my facts stay the same," he wrote on X, adding that colleagues will be able to review all documents in the case.
Moreno repeatedly declined to discuss how the feud might affect Miller's re-election or Republican control of the House, saying, "I don't care about the politics."
What the Left Is Saying
The reporting on this dispute does not include public comment from Democrats or progressive organizations — both officeholders involved are Republicans. The case has nonetheless drawn renewed attention to how Congress handles domestic violence allegations against members, with an ethics review of Miller now underway after he requested one himself.
What the Numbers Show
The dispute has unfolded over roughly two years — Moreno said his family had been dealing with the situation privately for that long before he spoke out. The couple spent months battling in court over custody of their young daughter, and Miller has filed a defamation suit against Emily Moreno stemming from her allegations. No charges have been reported in connection with the photo release allegation.
The Bottom Line
The feud between two sitting Ohio Republicans — one a senator, one a congressman — is now playing out publicly at a time when domestic violence allegations against members of Congress face heightened scrutiny. Moreno said he does not care about political consequences, but Miller's seat factors into the narrow House balance of power. The immediate next steps are the ethics investigation launched Tuesday and ongoing custody proceedings.