House Speaker Mike Johnson on Friday brushed off domestic abuse allegations leveled against Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) by the congressman’s ex-wife, telling reporters the two-term lawmaker would have to sort it out on his own.
“I don’t get involved in the personal lives of members and those things. You know, he’s refuted some of these allegations, and he’s got to work that out,” Johnson said when asked by NBC News about the accusations.
The Louisiana Republican stopped short of calling for any investigation, resignation, or consequence for Miller, who is running for a third term this November.
Miller’s ex-wife is Emily Moreno, the daughter of Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH). The Daily Mail reported earlier this month that she has accused Miller of years of physical abuse, including an alleged June 2024 incident in which she said he hurled a pot of boiling water at her in front of their toddler daughter. The tabloid published photographs Moreno claimed documented her injuries, including redness across her upper chest and bruising on her arms and torso.
Miller has vehemently denied the claims.
“The false allegations against me come amidst a personal custody dispute and are simply an attempt to destroy my personal and professional reputation. I look forward to bringing the truth to light in court,” he posted on X.
On Wednesday, Miller filed a defamation lawsuit in Cuyahoga County against Moreno, her attorney Andrew Zashin, and Zashin’s law firm, seeking damages in excess of $25,000, according to The Associated Press.
A spokesperson for Moreno, Stefan Mychajliw, accused Miller of recycling a tactic he used against former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham, who alleged in a Washington Post op-ed during Trump’s first term that her relationship with a White House aide later identified as Miller had turned abusive. Miller sued Grisham for defamation in 2021 and voluntarily dismissed the case in 2023, just before trial.
The abuse allegations have not dented Miller’s standing inside the party. President Donald Trump endorsed his re-election on May 5, declaring on Truth Social that Miller “WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!”
Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries announced a bipartisan task force this week aimed at overhauling how Congress handles sexual misconduct complaints, following a string of recent resignations.
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