Trump privately urges Miller to reconsider Ohio House bid

President Trump and some White House officials privately want embattled Ohio Republican Rep. Max Miller to leave his reelection race as domestic abuse allegations fuel widening calls from within his own party for him to step aside, multiple U.S. officials familiar with the matter told CBS News.

Trump called Miller on Monday and raised concerns about his campaign after allegations that Miller assaulted his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, and their 2-year-old daughter, two sources directly familiar with the call told CBS News. Miller, who has denied the allegations, told the president he has no plans to leave the race, according to one of the sources.

Miller is the Republican nominee for an Ohio House seat. CBS News reported that he has until 4 p.m. Wednesday to withdraw his candidacy and allow Republicans to replace him on the November ballot. The Guardian reported that if Miller removed his name before the close of business Tuesday, a special Republican primary would be held, and that if he withdrew after that, the party would still need to replace him by Aug. 10 with two days’ notice before a meeting to choose a substitute candidate.

On Tuesday morning, Miller said he would ask for a congressional ethics investigation into himself in an effort to clear his name.

“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,” Miller wrote on X. “I have absolutely nothing to hide. We will be providing the committee all necessary documents needed for a detail[ed] examination. The accusations continue to change, but my facts stay the same. I am looking forward to my colleagues reading everything for themselves.”

Miller also told CBS News on Monday that leaving the race would validate claims he says are false.

“If I dropped out of this race, it would mean we as a nation have fallen so far from our American values,” he said. “I will not validate false claims by removing myself just to please the court of public opinion. I am innocent of all of the allegations that have been attributed to me. I have done well representing my constituents’ interests. Why would I drop out?”

Emily Moreno is the daughter of Ohio Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno. On Sunday, Bernie Moreno said Miller “should not serve in the House of Representatives” and “needs serious psychological help.” The Guardian reported that Moreno’s comments followed a livestream video in which Miller defended himself and said his former wife had “significant mental-health challenges.”

The Guardian reported that Miller has been accused of holding a gun to Emily Moreno’s head and scalding her with boiling water, and that their toddler daughter suffered a broken collarbone because of his actions. Miller denies allegations of abuse and has filed a defamation case against his former wife over the claims, The Guardian reported. The couple divorced in 2025 after marrying in 2022 at Trump’s club in Bedminster, New Jersey.

Several Republican senators publicly backed Moreno or called for Miller to leave office. “[Miller] should resign. He should quit,” Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall told Politico, according to The Guardian. “I don’t know Mr. Miller’s story, but I trust Bernie [Moreno] so much as a good friend, and his family has such high values.”

West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito said, “I don’t know [Miller]. I haven’t read a whole lot about him, but if [Moreno] thinks he ought to resign, I’m supportive of that.” Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski said the accusations were “very serious” and that elected officials should be held to high standards if they are true.

Trump publicly avoided taking sides Monday. “I know Max, he’s a good person, I mean, I always thought he was a very good person,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “And I’m going to let the families figure that out.”

Miller told The Wall Street Journal, according to The Guardian, that Trump “was supportive of me over the phone” and discussed polling. “He kept on reiterating it’s going to be tough, and it’s going to be a really hard one for you,” Miller said.