House Republican Conference Chair Lisa McClain is supporting Rep. Max Miller's reelection bid despite allegations of abuse by his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, who claimed Miller physically and verbally abused her and their two-year-old daughter. McClain said she will support anyone with an "R" behind their name, indicating that party loyalty takes precedence over the allegations against Miller. A restraining order was requested on July 30, but GOP leadership is standing by Miller as the midterms approach. Rep. Miller has denied the allegations, claiming they were investigated and found to be baseless.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
President Donald Trump was furious about leaked information about the US military's munitions stockpiles, and as a result, the Pentagon subjected approximately 50 members of the Joint Staff to polygraph tests in August. The tests were conducted after news reports detailed how the conflict with Iran had strained US supplies of critical munitions, including long-range missiles and Patriot air-defense interceptors.
The investigation was part of a broader effort by the Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Justice Department to identify and prosecute people suspected of leaking sensitive government information to the press. No one failed the polygraph test questions intended to pinpoint the leaker, according to multiple sources, including CBS News.
This move has been seen as a show of force aimed at not just ferreting out anyone who may have shared information but also intimidating others who might do so in the future. The Joint Staff is responsible for coordinating operations, policy, and war plans with combatant commanders around the world, with between 1500 to 2000 officers and officials working there.
It's worth noting that polygraph tests are not uncommon in the US government, especially for high-level security clearance holders who could be subject to testing every five to seven years. However, the scale of this investigation is unusual, with multiple sources suggesting it was a response to Trump's personal frustration over the leaked information.
Written for “Pentagon Polygraph Crackdown” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 21 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it +0.85, but none of the 1 quote(s) it offered could be found in the article text, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 6005: no verified evidence · logged 2026-09-07
House Republican Conference Chair Lisa McClain said while she hopes
are "not true," she is supporting his reelection bid for a third term because "I will support anyone with an R behind their name.""At the end of the day, he's our nominee right now," the
."
asserted
he → say → day
"I wish the allegations weren't true.
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allegations → wish → ?
"McClain also said that "divorces are ugly," but "at the end of the day, we got to let the process play out."
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process → say → day
"I'm focused on winning the House back, taking the House back, keeping the House because we are the only party that's actually putting more money in your pocket, making sure that crime is down, securing the border, and rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse
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is → focus → waste
," McClain said.
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McClain → say → ?
"And Max Miller has been a good advocate for his constituents doing that."
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Miller → do → that
Despite numerous Republican lawmakers, including Sens. Katie Britt, Jim Banks and John Husted, calling on Miller to drop out, GOP leadership is standing by Miller with the midterms approaching.
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midterms → include → Miller
House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters on Aug. 31, "He's been a great member of Congress."
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He → tell → Congress
The abuse allegations against Miller gained attention after his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, asked a court on July 30 to issue a restraining order that would prevent Miller from contacting her lawyers.
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that → gain → lawyers
Moreno, the daughter of GOP Sen. Bernie Moreno of Ohio, alleged Miller verbally and physically abused her and their two-year-old daughter.
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Miller → allege → her
She says the Ohio congressman once threw boiling water at her, pointed a gun at her and tossed her against a wall, as well as allegedly caused a clavicle fracture and bruise on their daughter.
uncertain
congressman → say → daughter
Miller has denied the allegations.
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Miller → deny → allegations
CBS News reached out to him on Sunday for comment as well.
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News → reach → comment
"My former wife is engaging in a pattern of reporting incredible, serious and destructive allegations with absolutely no evidence," Miller said in a livestream on Aug. 2.
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Miller → engage → Aug.
"Every single one of these allegations were already investigated, and I cooperated fully every single time because I had nothing to hide."
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I → investigate → nothing
In an effort to discredit the allegations, while also facing accusations from former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham and a woman from high school, he released a Dropbox folder with documents to defend himself.
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he → discredit → himself
That folder, however, appeared to include naked photos of his daughter, adding to the hostilities of the divorce and custody battle.
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folder → appear → battle
Sen. Moreno in August said his daughter "lives in constant fear of this man," and he has to pick up his granddaughter at a police station for exchanges because he doesn't know "what this guy's capable of."
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guy → say → what
During one custody exchange, Moreno claimed his former son-in-law would not hand over a blue stuffed bunny and "literally held it hostage" from his daughter.
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law → claim → daughter
The senator said Miller "should not serve in the House of Representatives" and "needs serious psychological help."
To avoid a special election primary in Ohio,
, and President Trump even , a sources CBS News at the time.
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a → say → time
hold a slim majority in the House, and the party in the White House has traditionally faced losses in midterm elections.
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party → hold → elections
The combination means Republicans must fight to retain every seat.
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Republicans → mean → seat
