Bay Village police are actively investigating a suspected child abuse complaint involving Ohio Rep. Max Miller — a sitting Republican congressman running for re-election — whose ex-wife alleges he engaged in “dangerous physical behavior” in their 2-year-old daughter’s presence, according to court filings and a Wednesday report by TMZ DC.
Miller, who has represented northeast Ohio’s 7th Congressional District since January 2023, filed for divorce from Emily Moreno in August 2024 after a two-year marriage. The couple share a 2-year-old daughter. Under the existing divorce settlement, both parties hold joint custody, and Miller was ordered to pay $2,500 per month in child support.
Emily Moreno is the daughter of Ohio U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno, who took office in January 2025 after defeating three-term Democratic incumbent Sherrod Brown. Sen. Moreno and his wife Bridget were subpoenaed in 2025 to testify in the ongoing divorce proceedings, with Miller’s legal team seeking records of financial support provided to his ex-wife.
The legal conflict escalated on March 4, 2026, when Emily filed documents in Cuyahoga County court requesting a modification to the custody arrangement. In those filings, she alleges Miller “regularly speaks to me in an inappropriate, aggressive and demeaning manner, which is not in the best interest of our child” and that he “has conducted dangerous physical behavior in the child’s presence.” She stated she does not believe joint decision-making serves the child’s best interest, writing that she fears “the lack of cooperation from [Max] in doing so — will cause direct harm to [their child].”
Miller responded with a request that the court order psychological evaluations for both parties. In a March 13 declaration filed with the court, he disclosed that the couple’s daughter had suffered a broken collarbone and bruised shoulder, which triggered an investigation by the Cuyahoga County Department of Children and Family Services. Miller stated he was “apparently cleared” in that investigation. He also accused Emily of failing to disclose a separate injury to the child’s hand that occurred while the child was in her care, and of falsely claiming he physically attacked her during a custody exchange.
Emily disputes that account, stating the broken collarbone occurred while the child was in Miller’s custody, and that she “unequivocally” stands by her claim that he was physical with her during the parenting transfer. Bay Village police confirmed to TMZ the department has an active investigation into “suspected child abuse.” A judge has not yet ruled on the requested custody modification.
Emily’s attorney, Andrew Zashin, issued a statement calling Miller’s court filings a deliberate abuse of process. “Miller’s entirely false allegations against his ex-wife concerning their daughter were thrown out of court,” Zashin said. “These baseless claims are nothing more than a cynical attempt by Mr. Miller to weaponize the legal system against his ex-wife, a strong, loving mother who refuses to submit to his coercive control.”
Zashin added: “Mr. Miller lives off a trust fund and has a well-documented history of using his wealth, lawyers, and the courts to bully his enemies. Ms. Moreno will not be intimidated or silenced. She is fighting back aggressively and has already prevailed. Mr. Miller’s self-described army of lawyers were forced to walk back sworn statements he made under oath, further proof that his attacks were reckless and unfounded.”
Miller’s attorney countered that a judge granted Miller a restraining order against Moreno and that 2 separate allegations filed against Miller with Child Protective Services were found to be false. The statement says one allegation resulted in a settlement by the child’s daycare facility after video evidence showed a daycare staff member caused the child’s injury. The second, filed by a hospital, led the judge to issue a restraining order against Moreno based on “proven false allegations.”
“The only person who has been granted a restraining order by a court of law is Rep. Max Miller,” his attorney stated. “The evidence brought against his ex-wife Ms. Moreno was enough to convince a judge that she was a threat to the Congressman. These allegations are false, and neither Ms. Moreno, nor anyone else, has been able to bring forward any evidence against Congressman Miller.”
The current custody dispute is not the first time Miller has faced allegations of physical conduct toward a woman. In October 2021, former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham — Miller’s then-girlfriend — publicly alleged that he had been physically abusive in the final days of their relationship. Miller denied the allegation and filed a defamation lawsuit against Grisham. A Cuyahoga County judge denied his request for a restraining order to stop her from discussing the claims.
Miller is on the Republican primary ballot on May 5, 2026, seeking a third term representing Ohio’s 7th District.
