‘What the Absolute F*ck Was That?’ Scandal-Ridden House Republican’s CNN Interview Baffles GOP Strategists

Embattled Rep. Max Miller (R-OH) responded to allegations of physical and emotional abuse during an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper in an exchange that did not seem particularly persuasive to many, including Republicans.

On Tuesday’s edition of The Lead, Tapper began questioning Miller about accusations from multiple women, but the lawmaker interrupted the host. The interjection prompted Tapper to respond, “Hold on… I’m not done with the list of women that have accused you of violence.”

Miller has denied being abusive. During the interview, he compared himself to President Donald Trump.

“In 2016, when President Donald J. Trump faced the most extreme allegations in the world that hit him day after day after day, and people in the media very much like yourself and others said that he would have no shot at winning, that he should not be the president of the United States,” Miller told Tapper. “But guess what? He stayed in and he was resilient.”

Shortly after the interview, CNN commentator and GOP strategist Scott Jennings said he “found no reason” in that interview to believe that Miller should stay in Congress.

“I found no reason, just as a Republican watching it, why I would want that person, above all other Republicans who live in that district, to serve in the U.S. Congress,” he said on air.

CNN’s Sarah Ferris reported that another Republican operative echoed that sentiment more bluntly. She quoted the person as saying, “I mean what the absolute f*ck was that?”

Jonathan Swan of The New York Times quote-tweeted the post and wrote, “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Miller’s ex-wife, Emily Moreno – the daughter of Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) – alleges Miller pointed a gun at her head, threw scalding hot water at her, pushed her into a wall, and fractured their two-year-old daughter’s collarbone. Miller denies the accusations. Stephanie Grisham, who served as Trump’s White House communications director and press secretary in the first term and dated Miller in 2019 and 2020, has also accused Miller of abuse. A third woman said that while she and Miller were in high school, Miller pushed a girl out of his room and she fell down some stairs.

Axios reported on Monday that Trump phoned Miller and told the congressman that “things aren’t looking good.”

Sen. Moreno has called on Miller to step down, as have a handful of other Republican senators.

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