Sen. Moreno Reveals He Sent Family to ‘Secure Place Out of State’ to Protect Them from Rep. Max Miller

Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via AP Images

As the custody battle between Rep. Max Miller (R-OH) and his ex-wife Emily Moreno seems to grow nastier by the day — and play out in the public eye — Miller’s ex-father-in-law Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) said he moved his wife, daughter, and granddaughter to a “secure location out of state” until they “feel safe.”

Emily Moreno has accused Miller of pointing a gun at her head, throwing scalding hot water on her, pushing her into a wall, and physically abusing their two-year-old daughter, fracturing the toddler’s collarbone.

President Donald Trump’s former White House communications director Stephanie Grisham dated Miller in 2019 and 2020 and has accused him of abuse.

Miller has denied wrongdoing, defending himself in eyebrow-raising social media posts and television interviews that have only  sparked new questions and concerns. A particularly noteworthy television appearance was with CNN anchor Jake Tapper on Tuesday; reaction to Miller’s comments was largely negative, even among Republicans.

After initially holding his tongue, Sen. Moreno has been outspoken about his ex-son-in-law, accusing Miller of “increasingly erratic and dangerous behavior.”

“He is a danger to my daughter, and I hold my breath every minute he has custody of my granddaughter,” the senator added, calling on Miller to drop his re-election bid and “seek professional help to end the clear pattern of abuse he has left in his wake.”

A House Ethics Committee investigation has been opened into the allegations, at Miller’s request. The embattled congressman admitted that Trump had told him he was facing a “tough race” but thus far has refused calls to drop out of the race. According to the Akron Beacon Journal, the deadline for Ohio Republicans to replace Miller on the ballot is Aug. 10.

Thursday morning, Tapper shared an update from Sen. Moreno about his daughter’s custody battle and his concerns about Miller.

According to Tapper, Sen. Moreno told him, “I sent my daughter, granddaughter, and wife out of State to a secure place until such time as they feel safe.”

Tapper followed up a short time later with a response from Miller, who denied Moreno’s claim.

“Rep Miller said this isn’t true and showed CNN emails showing his ex-wife communicating flight information to him for her and their daughter and allowing him a visit with their daughter before they left if he could make it,” wrote Tapper.

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