What Happened to Max Miller Legal Disputes in Ohio?

U.S. Representative Max Miller (R-Ohio) has been at the center of multiple legal controversies in Ohio, drawing significant media and political attention, particularly as he campaigns for re-election in 2026. These disputes largely stem from allegations of domestic abuse made by two former partners and a separate incident involving a road rage encounter.

The most prominent and ongoing legal battle involves Miller and his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, the daughter of U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno. Their bitter divorce, finalized in December 2025, escalated into a public legal feud. In May 2026, Miller filed a defamation lawsuit against Moreno, her attorney Andrew Zashin, and his law firm, alleging they engaged in a defamatory campaign by spreading false information to media outlets, causing him 'considerable reputational and financial harm' and undermining his re-election chances. Moreno, in turn, has accused Miller of repeated domestic abuse during their marriage, including claims that he threw boiling water at her, held a gun to her head, and caused injuries to their young daughter. She also alleged that Miller 'regularly speaks to me in an inappropriate, aggressive and demeaning manner'. In June 2026, Moreno's counsel filed a third supplement to her motion to dismiss Miller's defamation claims, arguing that Miller's own public statements about the allegations not hurting his election chances undermine his claim for damages. On July 7, 2026, the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas denied Miller's 'emergency' motion for expedited discovery, a significant blow to his defamation lawsuit against Moreno. Most recently, on July 31, 2026, Emily Moreno filed a new restraining order against Miller, alleging he physically grabbed one of her attorneys and used a profane slur during a court hearing. Miller has consistently denied all allegations of abuse from Moreno, stating they are false and politically motivated.

Separately, Miller faces renewed legal action from his former girlfriend, Stephanie Grisham, a former White House press secretary. Grisham had previously made allegations of physical abuse against an unnamed former White House staffer in a 2021 Washington Post op-ed, later confirmed to be Miller. Miller sued Grisham for defamation, but voluntarily dismissed the suit with prejudice in August 2023 as part of a confidential settlement. However, in July 2026, Grisham filed a new lawsuit against Miller, alleging he violated this confidential settlement through comments he made to Spectrum News in June 2026, where he discussed her allegations in the context of defending himself against Moreno's claims.

Adding another layer to Miller's legal entanglements is a dispute with Dr. Feras Hamdan. In June 2025, Hamdan attacked Miller in a road rage incident, for which Hamdan pleaded guilty to several misdemeanors in February 2026. Hamdan then filed a defamation lawsuit against Miller, claiming Miller defamed him by accurately describing the incident. In April 2026, Miller filed an answer, counterclaim, and third-party complaint against Hamdan, alleging assault, ethnic intimidation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and civil conspiracy, supported by evidence from Hamdan's own phone. This case is also ongoing.

The cumulative effect of these legal disputes has created significant political challenges for Miller, who is seeking re-election in Ohio's 7th Congressional District. The allegations have drawn calls for his resignation from anti-gun-violence groups and raised concerns among Republicans about the potential impact on his campaign and the party's control of the House. Miller maintains his innocence across all allegations and is actively fighting the lawsuits. The current status as of July 31, 2026, sees Emily Moreno filing a new restraining order against Max Miller, and the defamation lawsuits with both Moreno and Grisham continuing, alongside Miller's counterclaims against Hamdan.