Looking out for their own

Our major parties disagree, among countless other things, about how seriously to treat credible claims of abusive behavior:

Republican lawmakers are maintaining a practiced silence in the face of new misconduct allegations against one of their own. Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) has been — not for the first time — in the crosshairs of domestic abuse allegations brought forth by a former partner. 

In June, police footage related to a child custody dispute between Miller and his ex-wife Emily Moreno — the daughter of Republican Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno — was obtained by CNN. The footage, which documents a February interview between Moreno and Bay Village, Ohio, police, includes allegations that Miller abused Moreno. Moreno claimed that Miller had once held a gun to her head during an argument, and of physical abuse. 

The controversy around comes after a string of high-profile political misconduct scandals have roiled campaigns ahead of the 2026 midterms, resulting in the resignations of Reps. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) and Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) from the House, and the suspension of Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner’s campaign in Maine amid allegations of sexual assault. 

Republican leadership, however, has so far deflected and ignored the allegations against Miller. Last week, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) was asked by a reporter about the allegations against both Miller and Rep. Cory Mills — who faces allegations of both campaign financial fraud and being involved in a physical altercation with a woman February 2025. Police were called but Mills was not arrested.

Johnson dismissed the question. “The key word there is ‘allegation,'” he said.

Earlier this month, during a Fox News segment discussing the allegations against Platner, political strategist and former Kamala Harris adviser Mike Nellis got into it with fellow guest, podcaster Rich Zeoli, about why the party held a separate standard for its own members. 

“The topic today is Graham Platner,” said Zeoli, even though Miller is also a candidate up for reelection this November. “We’re talking about Graham Platner, if we want to do another segment on the congressman you’re bringing up or the candidate-” 

Nellis cut him off. “You let me know when we’re going to book a segment on Max Miller, because I haven’t heard a lot about it through Republicans,” he said. 

Even Senator Moreno, whose daughter is alleging the abuse by Miller, has been largely silent about the situation. In May, in response to Miller accusing Moreno’s daughter of defamation, the senator told reporters that the “only comment” he would make was that he loved his daughter, and that her and his granddaughter’s safety were his top priority. Senator Moreno has seemingly refrained from making any additional statements regarding the dispute between his daughter and his Republican colleague, and has not called for Miller to resign or be expelled from the House. 

The allegations described by his daughter are incredibly disturbing. In the police interview, a tearful Moreno describes an incident in which she had been changing their then-infant daughter’s diaper at night. Miller allegedly became angry when she she had been changing their then-infant daughter’s diaper at night. Miller allegedly became angry when she turned on the lights to better see, and yelled at her before pointing a gun at her head. 

She described other incidents in which Miller had allegedly been physically abusive towards her, even while they were living separately. In one incident where Moreno came to Miller’s residence to pick up their daughter for a birthday party, she told police that Miller became upset and accused her of “taking away his parenting time.” 

“He threw me into the wall and I fell on the ground,” she added. 

Well, when it comes to looking the other way, Ohio Republicans have a master to teach them.