Bernie Moreno breaks silence, says Max Miller is 'a danger' to his daughter

A deeply personal family dispute has spilled further into the political spotlight after Republican Senator Bernie Moreno publicly declared that his former son-in-law, Representative Max Miller, should no longer serve in Congress, escalating a controversy already threatening Miller's reelection campaign.

The extraordinary statement came as Miller defended himself in a live broadcast on X, rejecting domestic abuse allegations made by his former wife and insisting he would remain in the race ahead of a key candidate replacement deadline.

"Needs serious psychological help. He is a danger to my daughter, and I hold my breath every minute he has custody of my granddaughter," he wrote.

Bernie Moreno breaks months of public silence

For months, Moreno had largely avoided commenting publicly on the contentious custody battle involving his daughter, Emily Moreno, and Miller.

That changed on Sunday when the Ohio senator issued a strongly worded statement accusing the congressman of lacking the character required to hold public office.

Moreno said Miller should seek professional psychological help and expressed concern for the safety of his daughter and granddaughter, saying he worries whenever Miller has custody of the child.

The remarks mark the senator's sharpest criticism of his former son-in-law since the allegations became public.

Max Miller rejects abuse claims, vows to stay in race

Responding through a live video on X, Miller firmly denied accusations that he abused either his former wife or their young daughter.

He also dismissed calls for him to step aside, saying he has no intention of ending his reelection campaign before Wednesday's deadline to withdraw from the race.

"I’m not dropping out of this race and I'll win in November," Miller said, insisting the allegations against him are false.

Alongside his response, the Republican congressman released a large collection of court records and investigative documents connected to the ongoing custody dispute.

Custody battle draws renewed scrutiny

The legal fight between Miller and Emily Moreno has intensified in recent weeks, bringing renewed attention to allegations that have circulated for years.

Emily Moreno has accused her former husband of physically assaulting, threatening and scalding her during their marriage.

One of the most closely watched aspects of the case involves their two-year-old daughter, who suffered a broken collarbone. Court documents show both parents have offered differing explanations about how the injury occurred.

Miller denied responsibility for the injury during Sunday's broadcast.

The couple married in 2022 before finalising their divorce last year.

Former wife's spokesperson condemns Miller's response

Emily Moreno's spokesperson, Stefan Mychajliw, criticised Miller's public defence, calling the video an attempt to protect his political future.

He argued that the legal process—not social media—would ultimately determine the facts surrounding the case.

Political pressure grows ahead of election

The controversy has created fresh uncertainty around one of Ohio's Republican-held congressional districts.

Although Miller has previously enjoyed strong backing from President Donald Trump and served as a White House adviser during Trump's first administration, Democrats believe the allegations have made the race more competitive.

They have called for Miller to resign, urged a congressional ethics investigation and indicated they could increase support for Democratic challenger Brian Poindexter.

Behind the scenes, speculation has also grown within Republican circles about possible replacement candidates should Miller unexpectedly leave the race before the deadline.

High-stakes race enters critical phase

Despite mounting criticism from both political opponents and members of his former family, Miller has signalled he intends to continue campaigning.

With the custody dispute continuing through the courts and political pressure mounting, the controversy is expected to remain a central issue in the race as Ohio voters prepare for the November election.