House Ethics Committee opens probe into Max Miller

The House Ethics Committee opened an investigation Tuesday into Rep. Max Miller after the Ohio Republican said he would ask the panel to examine domestic abuse allegations made by his ex-wife, an uncommon effort by a lawmaker to seek scrutiny of his own conduct amid a public custody dispute.

The committee said it is investigating whether Miller may have engaged in “domestic violence and abuse or illegal drug use in violation of the Code of Official Conduct.” It added that the decision to conduct an investigation does not itself indicate that the allegations are true.

Miller has vehemently denied the allegations and denied wrongdoing. Earlier Tuesday, he wrote on X that he planned to file paperwork seeking an ethics investigation into himself.

“In light of all the renewed interest in my family affairs I am going to file my own paperwork for an ethics investigation into myself to clear my name from these horrific attacks on myself and family. I have absolutely nothing to hide,” Miller wrote.

“We will be providing the committee all necessary documents needed for a detail examination. The accusations continue to change, but my facts stay the same. I am looking forward to my colleagues reading everything for themselves,” he continued.

The allegations that Miller abused his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, and their young child emerged in recent legal filings, CBS News reported. The filings gained broader attention after Sen. Bernie Moreno, an Ohio Republican and Emily Moreno’s father, issued a statement Sunday saying Miller should not serve in Congress.

Moreno said Miller “needs serious psychological help” and is “a danger to my daughter,” adding, “I hold my breath every minute he has custody of my granddaughter.”

“If there are any basic standards of character required to hold elected office, Max Miller fails them,” Moreno said. “He should not serve in the House of Representatives.”

At the Capitol on Tuesday, Moreno became emotional while speaking to reporters about the effect of the dispute on his family.

“This is truly the seventh level of hell. This has been a horrific experience for my entire family,” Moreno said.

Moreno said his daughter lives in constant fear of Miller and said he met Miller at a police station Sunday to pick up his granddaughter.

The investigation comes as Miller faces calls from some lawmakers to step aside from his reelection campaign. His request for an ethics review suggests he does not plan to drop out. CBS News reported Tuesday that President Donald Trump and some White House officials are privately hoping Miller steps aside.

Publicly, Trump has stood by Miller. On Monday, Trump called the situation “a very sad thing” and said Miller, a political ally, is a “good person.” He said he wanted to let the families figure things out.

Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., said the allegation that Miller engaged in domestic abuse is “none of my business,” but added, “It just doesn’t help. Just gives people one more reason to be disgusted with Congress.”

Ethics investigations often take weeks or months to complete. The House is currently on its August recess and is scheduled to return in September.

It is unusual, though not unprecedented, for House members to request ethics investigations into themselves. In 2008, Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-N.Y., then chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, asked the Ethics Committee to investigate allegations that he had improperly used congressional letterhead to seek support for an educational center named after him. After a two-year probe, the committee found Rangel had violated 11 House ethics rules. The full House censured him, and he relinquished the Ways and Means gavel. Rangel did not seek reelection in 2016.