RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 11 sourcesMax likeMiller had previously been at the center of domestic abuse allegations raised by his ex-girlfriend, former White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham
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Republican Rep. Max Miller, who is facing pressure to resign amid accusations that he abused his ex-wife and toddler daughter, reportedly asked President Donald Trump, Monday, for his public support – which has yet to materialize.
Instead, the president expressed concern that Miller, 37, cannot maintain his seat in the House of Representatives with accusations stacked against him and more Republicans calling on Miller to withdraw and resign, Miller told the Wall Street Journal .
“He kept on reiterating it’s going to be tough, and it’s going to be a really hard one for you,” Miller said of Trump’s remarks in an interview with the Wall Street Journal .
Miller, a former Trump campaign staffer, is accused of physically abusing his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, by throwing hot water from a skillet onto her body, holding a gun to her head, pushing her up against a wall and hitting her. He is also accused of fracturing their young daughter’s collarbone. Miller has denied all allegations and said his ex-wife has “significant mental health challenges.”
But after his former father-in-law, Senator Bernie Moreno , released a statement denouncing Miller’s character and raising alarm about his “clear pattern of abuse,” Miller has faced more calls to step down.
The allegations are alarming but not the first of its kind. The conservative lawmaker was also at the center of physical abuse allegations raised in 2021 by his former girlfriend Stephanie Grisham , who served as White House Press Secretary during Trump’s first term.
While Grisham had not named Miller directly, she wrote about an abusive relationship with her boyfriend , who was Miller at the time. Miller later sued Grisham for defamation but dropped the lawsuit. Both parties signed a nondisclosure agreement, according to the Ohio Capital Journal.
However, Grisham revived the old allegations last month when she filed a complaint against Miller for violating the terms of a 2023 settlement by claiming she fabricated allegations of abuse in an interview.
Monday, a lawyer for Grisham said they had filed a temporary restraining order against Miller , though it’s unclear why.
The Independent has asked Miller’s office for comment.
Miller has until Wednesday to withdraw from the race so a special primary could be called to replace him.
During his call with Miller, the president reportedly relayed negative polling numbers that show Miller lagging behind in Ohio’s 7th congressional district race. Miller pushed back, citing his own poll that shows he has a 9-point lead.
When asked whether he asked the president to issue a public statement of support, Miller told the Wall Street Journal that he remains in the race and that the president “was supportive of me over the phone.”
Axios was the first to report on the call between Trump and Moreno.
As of the morning of August 4, Trump has not issued a public statement in support of Miller. During remarks to reporters Monday afternoon , Trump said Miller’s situation was “a very sad thing.”
“I know Max, he’s a good person – I mean I always thought he was a very good person. And I’m going to let the families figure that out,” Trump said. “It’s accusations, and I’m going to let them figure that out.”
Other Republicans have been less abstinent from the situation. Kansas Senator Roger Marshall told Politico Monday that Miller “should resign” and “should quit.”
“I don’t know Mr. Miller’s story, but I trust Bernie so much as a good friend, and his family has such high values,” Marshall said in an interview with the news outlet. “I couldn’t imagine them wanting this out in public. So to go through with this, it makes me think that they’re telling the whole truth and nothing but the truth.”
West Virginia Republican Senator Shelley Moore Capito told Politico that she was “supportive” of Bernie Moreno’s calls for Miller to resign.
Florida Senator Rick Scott said that while he wasn’t knowledgeable about the allegations, he trusted Bernie Moreno’s judgment.
“It sounds like [Moreno] thinks [Miller] needs psychological help,” Scott told Politico .
Miller has remained firm that his ex-wife’s claims are not credible and noted that he retains joint custody of their young daughter – something he points to as evidence that a court has not considered him a threat to his family.
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