House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Monday, August 31, 2026, expressed his support for Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) as the congressman seeks reelection to a third term. The endorsement comes while the House Ethics Committee investigates allegations of domestic violence involving Miller’s ex-wife and daughter.
The House Ethics Committee announced in August 2026 that it had opened a probe into whether Miller violated the chamber’s conduct code. The investigation followed allegations from Miller's ex-wife, Emily Moreno, who claimed in court filings that Miller threw scalding hot water at her and held a gun to her head, and that their 2-year-old daughter suffered a fractured collarbone in February 2026. Miller has denied these accusations, calling them fabrications related to a custody battle, and filed a defamation lawsuit against Moreno in May. Miller also stated he filed his own paperwork to open an ethics investigation to clear his name.
"He has been a great member of Congress," Speaker Johnson told reporters on Monday. Johnson stated that Miller has "issues in his personal life he’s working through" and emphasized that he would "let due process play out" as the Ethics Committee continues its work. Earlier in August, Johnson described the allegations as "serious" but noted that the House does not take disciplinary action based solely on allegations.
The endorsement follows a shift by the Cook Political Report, which recently moved the race for Ohio’s 7th Congressional District from "likely Republican" to a "toss up." Republican division over the matter has become public, with some members, such as Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), arguing that Miller’s continued candidacy risks losing the seat to Democrats. Despite this, Johnson told Politico he is confident Republicans will hold the district against Democratic challenger Brian Poindexter.
The dispute involves several high-profile Republican figures. Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), Miller’s former father-in-law, has called for Miller to resign, stating his family has faced "the seventh level of hell" during the custody battle. Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted also stated that if the allegations are true, Miller should step down.
Voters in Ohio will decide the race in the upcoming November election. The House Ethics Committee has not provided a specific deadline for completing its investigation, meaning the probe could still be active when voters cast their ballots. Miller served as a political appointee during the first Trump administration before being elected to the House in 2022.