Max Miller

Pressure is mounting on Republican Max Miller as a growing number of GOP members call on the Ohio congressman to step aside following domestic abuse allegations made by his ex-wife, Emily Moreno.

The latest Republican to urge Miller to leave Congress is Ohio Senator Jon Husted, who said Thursday that Miller should resign and withdraw from his reelection campaign to focus on his family.

Miller has repeatedly denied the allegations. He has described the claims as false and politically motivated, and has welcomed a House Ethics Committee investigation into the accusations.

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Newsweek reached out to Miller for further comment.

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Miller is facing multiple investigations and growing political scrutiny after Emily Moreno accused him of domestic violence, child abuse and other misconduct during their marriage. Miller has denied the allegations, calling them false and politically motivated. He has also requested that the House Ethics Committee investigate the claims, saying he welcomes an independent review.

The House Ethics Committee has not announced whether it will open a formal investigation. Separately, local authorities have reviewed aspects of the allegations, although no criminal charges have been filed against Miller in connection with Moreno's claims as of Thursday.

The controversy has also complicated Miller's political future. Despite mounting calls from some Republicans to resign or suspend his reelection campaign, Miller has said he intends to remain in Congress and continue his bid for another term.

Jon Husted

Husted, Ohio's junior Republican senator, became the latest GOP lawmaker to publicly call for Miller to step aside. In a statement posted on X, Husted wrote: "Anyone who commits domestic violence is not fit to serve in Congress."

While stressing that the allegations should be investigated by the House Ethics Committee, Husted also said Miller should leave office for the sake of his family.

"I believe Max would be making the right decision to step aside as a candidate and resign from Congress to focus on what is in the best interest of his daughter," Husted wrote.

"I hope this decision leads to a more constructive conversation about Ruthie's future and gives Max and Emily the opportunity, as private citizens, to do what is best for their daughter."

Newsweek has reached out to Husted for further comment.

Bernie Moreno

Senator Bernie Moreno of Ohio, Miller’s former father-in-law, was among the first Republican lawmakers to publicly call for Miller to leave office. He said Miller "should not serve in the House of Representatives" and called on him to resign amid allegations of domestic violence and abuse.

"If there are any basic standards of character required to hold elected office, Max Miller fails them," he said Sunday.

The senator has said his comments were based on his concerns about the allegations and not on his personal relationship with Miller. The senator has also said that the situation is especially difficult because of his daughter and Miller's 2-year-old.

Roger Marshall

Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas also called for Miller to step down. Asked about the allegations, Marshall said: "He should resign. He should quit."

Marshall said that he trusted Senator Moreno as a "good friend' and described his family as having "high value."

“I couldn’t imagine them wanting this out in public. So to go through with this, it makes me think that they’re telling the whole truth and nothing but the truth," he said.

Marshall’s comments marked one of the most direct calls from a Republican senator for Miller to leave Congress.

Shelley Moore Capito

Senator Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia backed Senator Moreno’s call for Miller to resign.

When asked about Moreno’s position, Capito said she supported his view, telling Politico, “I don’t know [Miller]. I haven’t read a whole lot about him, but if [Moreno] thinks he ought to resign, I’m supportive of that."

Capito did not make the allegations herself but said she trusted Moreno’s judgment regarding the situation.

Tim Sheehy

Senator Tim Sheehy of Montana on Thursday branded Miller a "degenerate sociopath" after Senator Moreno accused Miller of holding his 2-year-old daughter's favorite toy “hostage.” Miller has denied the claim.

" What kind of person would treat their daughter this way? This guy is clearly a degenerate sociopath. Max should step aside and seek help. Staying in this race makes it far more likely we lose this seat and hand Democrats a majority to impeach President Trump," Sheehy posted on X.

Rick Scott

Senator Rick Scott of Florida said Miller "shouldn't be in office" but stopped short of directly calling on him to resign.

Scott said allegations involving elected officials must be taken seriously, but indicated that voters would ultimately have a role in deciding Miller's political future.

His comments placed him among Republicans who have expressed concern about Miller's situation, although he did not make the same direct demand for resignation as Moreno, Marshall, Capito and Husted.

Katie Britt

When asked on Wednesday if she believed Miller should resign and not run for reelection, Senator Katie Britt told Semafor "yes," adding, “When you watch those [Miller] interviews, if you have ever had anyone in your life that has experienced abuse, they were eerie."

"But I stand with Bernie and supporting his daughter and his granddaughter, and hope that others will as well.," she said.

GOP Lawmakers Seek Answers on Allegations

While some Republicans have directly called on Miller to resign or step aside from his reelection campaign, others have expressed concern about the allegations and called for the matter to be addressed through an investigation.

Representative Nancy Mace of South Carolina has called on the House Ethics Committee to investigate the allegations against Miller. Mace, who has previously pushed for accountability in cases involving allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse, described the accusations as "horrific" and said Congress should examine the claims.

Miller has denied the allegations and has requested an Ethics Committee review, saying he welcomes an investigation.

Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming have also expressed concern about the situation but have stopped short of calling for Miller to resign.

Murkowski said she trusted Senator Moreno's judgment regarding the allegations, given his relationship to the matter. Lummis similarly said she was concerned by the allegations and supported allowing the appropriate processes to play out.

Their comments reflect a broader split among Republicans: some lawmakers have argued Miller should leave office, while others have called for a formal review before any decisions are made.

Where Trump, Johnson and Thune Stand

President Donald Trump has not called on Miller to resign. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Trump said he was "not going to get involved," calling it a "very sad situation."

"I know Max very well but it's very, very sad when a situation like that takes place," he added.

Earlier this week, the president had said he felt "badly" for Miller, adding that the matter should ultimately be worked out privately. Reports indicate Trump has not publicly urged Miller to leave Congress or end his campaign.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has also declined to call for Miller's resignation, saying he did not want to weigh in publicly on the personal allegations. Senate Majority Leader John Thune likewise has not publicly called on Miller to step aside or commented in detail on the allegations.

The calls from Husted, Moreno, Marshall and Capito mark the most significant public break yet between Miller and members of his own party, as Republicans weigh the political fallout ahead of November's elections. Miller has said he will remain in the race despite the growing pressure and continues to deny all wrongdoing.

Can Republicans Replace Max Miller on the Ballot?

Republicans still have a narrow path to replace Miller as their nominee in Ohio's 7th Congressional District, but the easier route has already passed.

Miller needed to withdraw by an earlier deadline to allow party officials to replace him through a more straightforward process. That deadline passed on August 5. He can still withdraw before the later August 10 deadline, but doing so would affect how the replacement process works and could leave Republicans with a more complicated path to naming a new nominee.

Under Ohio election rules, the timing of a candidate's withdrawal determines whether a vacancy can be filled through party action or whether additional election procedures are required.

Miller has so far indicated he intends to remain in the race despite calls from several Republican senators and other GOP officials to step aside.

Who Could Replace Max Miller If He Leaves the Race?

Several Republican names have should Miller decide to end his reelection campaign, although no candidate has formally entered the race and Miller has indicated he plans to remain on the ballot.

Republican sources told Axios that the party has discussed several possible replacements, including Ohio state Representative Mike Dovilla of Berea, a U.S. Navy veteran and former presidential appointee to the Office of Personnel Management; former Representative Jim Renacci; Ohio state Representative Melanie Miller; and former Ohio state Senator Kevin Coughlin.

Renacci, who previously held the congressional seat before leaving the House to run for governor, said he could consider another bid if Miller withdrew.