Ohio – A bitter legal fight involving Ohio Congressman Max Miller took another unexpected turn this week after the Republican lawmaker moved to dismiss his domestic violence case against his estranged wife, Emily Moreno, just days before a scheduled court hearing.
The filing marks the latest development in a months-long conflict that has expanded far beyond a standard custody dispute and now includes abuse allegations, police investigations, defamation lawsuits, and heated courtroom confrontations.
Miller, who represents Ohio in Congress and previously served in the first Trump administration, filed the motion Tuesday seeking to voluntarily withdraw the domestic violence petition he had brought against Moreno earlier this year.
The request came only two days before the court was set to hear the matter.
In the filing, Miller’s legal team argued that ending the case would help shift attention back toward the couple’s young daughter.
“In an effort to redirect the proceedings before this Honorable Court back to the well-being and best interests of the parties’ minor child, [Miller] gives Notice to this Honorable Court and counsel that he hereby voluntarily dismisses his Petition in this matter without prejudice,” the motion stated.
The dismissal does not end the larger legal battle between the two sides, however, as several other disputes remain active.
Custody dispute spiraled into broader conflict
The controversy traces back to a custody exchange on February 1 involving the couple’s two-year-old daughter.
Emily Moreno, the daughter of Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno, has alleged that Miller physically grabbed her and pushed her against a wall during that encounter.
Miller has repeatedly denied the accusation.
Following those allegations, tensions between the former couple escalated dramatically.
Later in February, Moreno took their daughter for medical testing after concerns about the child’s condition. An X-ray reportedly found a broken collarbone and a bruised shoulder.
Around the same period, both the Bay Village Police Department and Cuyahoga County Children & Family Services launched investigations that examined allegations involving Miller.
Court records later showed Miller accusing Moreno of making “repeated and unsubstantiated allegations of abuse of the parties’ minor child against” him.
On February 27, the congressman responded by filing his own domestic violence action against Moreno.
In that petition, Miller argued that Moreno was spreading “repeated false allegations of abuse” in an effort to damage his reputation and cause him “mental distress.”
He also raised concerns about Moreno’s driving and questioned whether she possessed a firearm after seeing a pro-Second Amendment sign associated with her.
Moreno’s attorneys rejected those claims, maintaining that she does not own a gun and asserting that Miller had previously offered her one of his firearms.
Courtroom controversies intensified scrutiny
As the legal battle continued, a judge granted Miller a protection order against Moreno and instructed her to stay away from him.
At the same time, the judge found there was no evidence “to issue an order to protect the minor child [from Moreno] at this time.”
The case later became even more complicated after questions emerged regarding statements Miller made during court proceedings.
The congressman claimed in sworn filings and testimony that his girlfriend had been present during the February custody exchange and could contradict Moreno’s account of events.
Miller also asserted that doorbell camera footage existed showing his girlfriend at the scene.
However, his legal team later acknowledged that she was not actually present during the exchange. Attorneys argued that Miller had simply made an honest mistake regarding the timeline.
That revelation became a major point of contention in the ongoing proceedings.
Earlier this month, reports also surfaced alleging that Miller attempted to provoke Moreno’s attorney, Andrew Zashin, into a physical confrontation following a court hearing where Zashin challenged the congressman’s inaccurate claims.
Defamation lawsuits continue
While Miller has now abandoned the domestic violence case, the broader legal war remains far from over.
Earlier this month, the congressman filed a separate defamation lawsuit against both Moreno and Zashin over the abuse allegations made against him.
Miller hired attorney Alejandro Brito, who previously worked with President Donald Trump, to lead that legal effort.
Last week, Miller’s legal team attempted to remove Zashin from the custody proceedings, arguing that his involvement in both matters created an “unwaivable concurrent conflict of interest.”
Meanwhile, Miller’s spokesperson Chris Vlasto defended the decision to drop the domestic violence case.
“Although Congressman Max Miller believed the restraining order was justified, the ongoing circus created by his ex-wife Emily and her counsel was increasingly redirecting attention away from what truly matters — the best interests of his daughter,” Vlasto said.
“He remains committed to protecting his daughter from unnecessary public conflict and ensuring that these matters are handled privately and responsibly.”
The latest filing also adds to a pattern of aggressive litigation associated with Miller. In 2021, he filed a defamation lawsuit against former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham after claims made in her memoir “I’ll Take Your Questions Now.” That case was later voluntarily dismissed.
Now, with the domestic violence petition withdrawn but multiple lawsuits and custody disputes still active, the highly public fight between Miller and Moreno appears far from reaching a conclusion. Instead, the latest move simply shifts the battleground, as both sides continue fighting over allegations that have already drawn intense political and public attention.
