Mother Jones
· collected 2026-08-28 · by Reported by Abby Vesoulis with video by Sam Van Pykeren
Max Miller, a Republican congressman from Ohio, made a veiled threat against Senator Bernie Moreno at a court hearing in Cuyahoga County family court in Cleveland on Wednesday. Miller was defending himself against allegations of domestic abuse made by his ex-wife Emily Moreno, the senator's daughter, who claims he held a gun to her head and threw scalding water at her. At least six Republican senators have called for Miller to drop out of his reelection campaign, but he has vowed to stay in the race despite these allegations. Miller implied that he has information about Senator Moreno that he is choosing not to share.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-28,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Rep. Max Miller, an Ohio Republican, made a surprising comment during a recent custody hearing over his two-year-old daughter with ex-wife Emily Moreno, whose father is Sen. Bernie Moreno (also a Republican). When questioned by Abby Vesoulis of Mother Jones, Miller said he had "certain things" about Bernie Moreno that he would like to keep quiet, but didn't elaborate. This statement comes amidst a custody battle in which Emily Moreno has accused Max Miller of abuse, including holding a gun to her head and throwing scalding water at her - allegations that Miller denies. Despite these allegations and pressure from six Republican senators to drop out of the election, Miller is running for reelection with just weeks to go before the deadline to replace him on the ballot.
Written for “Bernie Moreno Scandal” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning score +0.85 for article 3005 (high confidence, 2 verified quotes) · logged 2026-08-28
A heated scene unfolded at the Cuyahoga County family court in Cleveland on Wednesday, as the key players in a bitter dispute that has grabbed national headlines assembled in one room.
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that → unfold → room
The case is one that Mother Jones reporter Abby Vesoulis has been covering for weeks: a custody fight over the two-year-old daughter of Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) and his ex-wife, Emily Moreno—whose father is Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio).
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father → cover → Miller
Miller is currently defending himself against Emily’s allegations that he held a gun to her head, shoved her against a wall, and threw scalding water at her—all of which he vehemently denies.
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he → defend → which
Despite these allegations, and at least six Republican senators (including his former father-in-law) urging him to drop out, Miller is running for reelection and has vowed to stay in the race.
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Miller → include → race
The deadline to replace him on the ballot passed earlier this month.
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deadline → replace → ballot
Abby got a rare chance to question Miller directly, just weeks after uncovering more than 2,000 pages of court and police records detailing the abuse allegations.
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Abby → get → allegations
Miller had initially declined to speak to the press after the hearing, referring all inquiries to his attorney.
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Miller → decline → attorney
But while his lawyer was speaking, Miller interrupted to deliver what sounded like a veiled threat against Sen. Moreno.
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what → speak → Moreno
“I was a part of that family for a very long time,” he said.
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he → say → time
“There are certain things that he would like me to remain quiet about, and I respectfully have… because that’s not my business to share.
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that → be → that
But it’s politically motivated.”
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it → ’ → ?
His lawyer went further, claiming Sen. Moreno “hates Max and wants to destroy Max” and only “came out of the woodwork” to attack Miller once reporters began asking why he had stayed silent about his daughter’s allegations.
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he → go → allegations
