Max Miller's Political Future in Jeopardy Amid Explosive Allegations
Republican prospects in Ohio’s 7th Congressional District declined on the prediction market Polymarket after Representative Max Miller vowed on Sunday to remain in the race and denied abuse allegations made by his ex-wife.Miller, a two-term congressman and former White House aide under President Donald Trump, has been involved in an acrimonious legal dispute with his ex-wife, Emily Moreno. He has denied allegations that he abused her or their young daughter. He has not been charged with a crime in connection to the allegations.In a livestream posted Sunday to the social media platform X, Miller strongly rejected the claims." I've been portrayed as an abusive husband, an abusive father, and a violent man. Those allegations have damaged my reputation, caused enormous pain to my family, and most importantly, it's affected our daughter," the congressman said in the video.From being in the low 50s on Sunday morning, Democratic odds on Polymarket surged into the high 60s following Miller's livestream as Republican odds fell from 47 percent to 34 percent, widening a pre-existing gap. The GOP's margin rose slightly by Monday morning.Newsweek contacted a Miller spokesperson for comment via email on Monday, outside of standard office hours....Miller Says He Will Stay in RaceDuring the livestream, Miller framed his reelection bid as a defense of his family and a pushback against media coverage."I'm not getting out of this race, and I'm winning in November," he said, adding that the upcoming election is also about keeping regional values and holding accountable "other individuals... who have been incredibly reckless."Miller also released a collection of documents compiled by his personal attorneys addressing the allegations and ongoing litigation, inviting the public to review them."When adverse parties in litigation are setting themselves on fire, I do not provide them with a fire extinguisher," Subodh Chandra, Emily Moreno's attorney, told Newsweek in a statement on Sunday.Chandra also provided a statement from Moreno’s spokesperson Stefan Mychajliw, that reads:“It is shameful that Max Miller decided to go on a bizarre and lie-filled rant about his ex-wife to desperately try to save his political career. There is a documented trove of evidence that Miller has a history of violent and dangerous behavior and no amount of victim shaming will change that. It is despicable and abhorrent that Miller lied on an unhinged and humiliating video for their daughter to watch one day."No loving parent would have ever used their daughter as a PR pawn to save their own political career. Miller can lie and spin on X, but he cannot do so under oath in a court of law. We are confident that justice will prevail in court.”...Democrats See Opening as GOP Watches RaceAccording to Axios, Wednesday marks Ohio’s deadline for Miller to withdraw in a manner that would automatically trigger a special election to select a replacement on the ballot. While party committees can fill vacancies after that point, they face a 4 p.m. deadline on August 10, after which a withdrawing candidate cannot be replaced.The Associated Press reported that Democrats see an opening in the district—which Miller won with just over 51 percent of the vote two years ago—and have called for his resignation while urging a congressional ethics investigation. While Republican leadership has largely backed Miller, Trump’s inner circle is closely monitoring the situation as the party defends its slim House majority.Trump, who endorsed Miller, told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday that he would look into the matter.“I’m going to look at it,” he said. “So far, it’s accusations. I’ll be looking at it.”Polling data published by NOTUS on Sunday indicates a tightening race. A survey conducted by a Republican firm on Wednesday and Thursday showed Miller trailing Democratic challenger Brian Poindexter 44 percent to 39 percent, with 16 percent undecided and a margin of error of plus or minus 3.8 points. The poll also reported that 41 percent of respondents viewed Miller unfavorably, compared to 25 percent favorably.A survey highlighted by the Ohio Democratic Party on June 23 found Miller and Poindexter effectively tied. The poll showed Miller receiving 44 percent support compared with 43 percent for Poindexter. According to the polling data, Poindexter held a 17-point advantage among self-described independents.The survey was conducted by GBAO, a Democratic polling firm, between June 18-20 among 500 likely voters. The margin of error was plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. That means Miller's one-point lead falls within the poll's margin of error, making the race statistically tied.Earlier this summer, Cook Political Report moved Ohio's 7th Congressional District from "Solid Republican" to "Likely Republican," signaling that respected election analysts consider the race more competitive than previously believed.Bernie Moreno Calls for Miller’s ResignationThe controversy intensified Sunday when GOP Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno, Miller’s former father-in-law, called for the congressman's resignation in a post on X."The last two years have been pure hell for my wife Bridget, our daughter Emily, me, and our entire family in the aftermath of Emily's divorce," Moreno wrote, adding, "If there are any basic standards of character required to hold elected office, Max Miller fails them. He should not serve in the House of Representatives."Miller, meanwhile, hit back at Moreno’s post, writing on X on Sunday: “If my daughter said the same thing to me, I personally wouldn’t wait two years before holding him accountable. You know this isn’t true and the only reason you are speaking out now is to hide from your own media circus. This is all political.”Contact Newsweek editors for this story: Tobias Meyjes and Anthony Murray.
