U.s. Rep. Max Miller Sues His Ex-wife For Defamation In Escalation Of Long-running Divorce Feud

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The bitter divorcement betwixt an Ohio congressman and his erstwhile wife, nan girl of 1 of nan state’s U.S. senators, has escalated into caller ineligible action.

Republican U.S. Rep. Max Miller revenge a defamation suit against Emily Moreno, his one-time spouse, connected Wednesday successful Cleveland, citing “the sizeable reputational and financial harm” caused to him by her accusations that he was “a convulsive and abusive hubby and father.”

Miller, a two-term congressman up for reelection this fall, alleges that Moreno, her lawyer Andrew Zashin and his rule patient person engaged successful a defamatory run against him by spreading knowingly mendacious accusation astir him to media outlets including nan Daily Mail, a British tabloid, and nan New York Post. The action contends that nan resulting harm to his estimation undermines his chances of reelection.

Those outlets person “circulation measured successful nan tens of millions of people and online readership,” nan title states, and their articles person been read, viewed aliases discussed by Miller’s constituents, his legislature colleagues, ”his governmental supporters and donors, nan media, and nan wide public.”

The suit seeks compensatory damages successful excess of $25,000, punitive damages capable to deter early akin behaviour and attorney’s fees.

“Congressman Miller is seeking to clasp those responsible accountable and to get damages for nan important personal, professional, and governmental harm that he has suffered,” his spokesperson said successful a statement.

Zashin declined comment.

The incident brings to mind a akin business that played retired arsenic Miller, a White House adjutant to President Trump during nan Republican’s first term, made his first tally for Congress successful 2021.

Miller’s erstwhile girlfriend, one-time White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham, raised allegations successful her book and successful a Washington Post op-ed astatine nan clip that a erstwhile White House staffer later identified arsenic Miller had physically abused her while they were dating. Miller responded by filing a defamation suit against her. He voluntarily dismissed nan suit pinch prejudice successful August 2023, conscionable earlier nan lawsuit was group to spell to trial.

Moreno’s spokesperson, Stefan Mychajliw, cited nan earlier suit successful a connection Thursday.

“Mr. Miller is upset because he’s tried to soundlessness Emily Moreno nan aforesaid measurement he silenced Stephanie Grisham — and Emily won’t fto him,” he said, suggesting Miller is “running nan aforesaid playbook against a female pinch photographs of her bruises and burns.” He added, “Mr. Miller will not soundlessness Ms. Moreno.”

Miller joined Emily Moreno successful 2022. They had a girl successful 2023.

He revenge for divorcement successful August 2024, arsenic her father, Bernie, was making a successful tally for U.S. Senate backed by Trump. The maltreatment allegations — astir recently, Moreno said Miller threw boiling h2o astatine her, an allegation he denies — travel amid a messy custody conflict that has included Miller seeking a restraining bid against his ex-wife and subpoenaing nan legislator to testify. The divorcement was finalized past June.

Miller’s spokesperson provided archiving that respective allegations that he had abused his girl were investigated by nan Cuyahoga County Division of Children and Family Services and deemed unsubstantiated.

Amid nan drama, Democrat Brian Poindexter, a five-term section councilman and national ironworker, is looking to oust Miller and flip Ohio’s 7th Congressional District successful November.

Smyth writes for nan Associated Press.