COLUMBUS, OHIO — The bitter divorce between an Ohio congressman and his ex-wife, the daughter of the state’s U.S. senator, has escalated into a new legal action.
Republican U.S. Rep. Max Miller filed a defamation lawsuit against Emily Moreno, his ex-wife, on Wednesday in Cleveland, citing the “significant damage to his reputation and finances” caused by her accusations that he was a “violent and abusive husband and father.”
Miller, a two-term congressman seeking re-election this fall, alleges that Moreno, her attorney Andrew Zachin, and his law firm engaged in a smear campaign against him by knowingly disseminating false information about him to media outlets including the Daily Mail, a British tabloid newspaper, and the New York Post. The lawsuit contends that the resulting damage to his reputation undermines his chances for re-election.
The complaint states that these outlets “have had a circulation measured in the tens of millions of print and electronic readers,” and their articles have been read, viewed or discussed by Miller’s constituents, his colleagues in Congress, “his political supporters, donors, the media, and the general public.”
The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages in excess of $25,000, punitive damages sufficient to deter similar conduct in the future, and attorneys’ fees.
“Congressman Miller seeks to hold those responsible accountable and receive compensation for the significant personal, professional and political harm he has suffered,” his spokesman said in a statement.
Zashin declined to comment.
This incident brings to mind a similar situation that occurred when Miller, a White House aide to President Donald Trump during the Republican Party’s first term, made his first run for Congress in 2021.
Miller’s ex-girlfriend, Stephanie Grisham, a one-time White House press secretary, raised allegations in her book and in a Washington Post op-ed at the time that a former White House staffer later identified as Miller physically assaulted her while they were dating. Miller The response was filed by filing a defamation suit Against it. He voluntarily dismissed the lawsuit with prejudice in August 2023, before the case even went to trial.
Moreno’s spokesman, Stephane Michelio, cited the previous lawsuit in a statement Thursday.
“Mr. Miller is upset because he tried to silence Emily Moreno in the same way he silenced Stephanie Grisham — and Emily won’t let him,” he said, suggesting Miller is “running the same playbook against a woman who uploads photos of her bruises and burns.” He added: “Mr. Miller will not silence Ms. Moreno.”
Miller married Emily Moreno in 2022 and they had a daughter in 2023.
He filed for divorce in August 2024, as did her father, Bernie Successful run for the US Senate With support from Trump. The abuse allegations — most recently, Moreno said Miller threw boiling water on her, an allegation he denies — come amid a messy custody battle that has included Miller seeking a restraining order against his ex-wife and subpoenaing the senator to testify. The divorce was finalized last June.
Miller’s spokesman filed documents stating that several allegations that he abused his daughter were investigated by the Cuyahoga County Department of Children and Family Services and deemed unsubstantiated.
Amid the drama, Democrat Brian Poindexter, a five-term local councilman and union ironworker, is looking to unseat Miller and flip Ohio’s 7th Congressional District in November.