Max Miller

There’s a political rule most candidates learn early: when you’re in a hole, stop digging. Congressman Max Miller apparently never got that memo, say the hosts of the Today in Ohio podcast.

The news discussion podcast explained how Miller, in a re-election batter, keeps making his own situation dramatically worse.

During Donald Trump’s first administration, Miller dated Stephanie Grisham, who served as White House press secretary. Grisham later publicly accused Miller of abuse. Miller responded by filing a defamation lawsuit against her. In 2023, the two reached a settlement — which, according to Grisham’s new lawsuit, included an agreement that neither party would make statements that could be considered disparaging toward the other.

Grisham claims Miller has violated that agreement with court filings in a case with his ex-wife Emily Moreno, who also has accused him of abuse.

In May, Miller posted on X sharing a recording in which Moreno says that everything Grisham claimed was fabricated and that Miller never harmed her. By invoking Grisham’s name and calling her claims fabricated in a public post, Miller may have torn up the terms of his own settlement.

“He put her name back into the discussion on Twitter ‚” host Laura Johnston said. “And by bringing her name in, calling her a liar again, he’s dredging that all up again. He’s making some very rash decisions here.”*

Quinn said Miller has taken multiple steps in his legal battle with Moreno that put him into a bad light.

“He’s in the middle of a, I think , tight race for reelection. He’s got two women now saying he’s an abusive guy. And he keeps putting that out into the public by his legal actions,” Quinn said. Basically, Miller keeps putting before the public that women have accused him of abuse. Normally, you’d expect his challenger to be the one doing that.

The dispute with Moreno drew fresh attention to Grisham. Grisham’s new lawsuit draws fresh attention to both. Each move Miller makes in one legal arena seems to create collateral damage in another.

There’s also the matter of a significant legal setback in the Moreno case itself. Miller had attempted to expedite the discovery process, but her attorneys pushed back, arguing the move amounted to a SLAPP — Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation — designed to intimidate or silence rather than genuinely litigate. The judge agreed and srejected his request.

Apart from the abuse allegations, Quinn raised a separate question. “Do you really want a congressman who makes such bad strategic moves? He’s really making things worse for himself with every step that he takes.”

Listen to the discussion here.

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