Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) addressed allegations of domestic abuse involving Rep. Max Miller (R-OH) during an interview with POLITICO, stating that the House would not take disciplinary action based on allegations alone. Johnson said the House Ethics Committee must be allowed to complete its investigation into the matter. The Speaker noted that while the claims are serious, he intends to maintain intellectual consistency by withholding judgment until the formal process concludes.
The comments follow public allegations that Miller held a firearm to the head of his former wife, Emily Moreno, and caused a physical injury to their daughter. Miller has denied all claims of wrongdoing, characterizing them as "politically motivated" and a result of a difficult divorce proceeding. The House Ethics Committee announced Tuesday it would investigate the abuse claims along with allegations of illegal drug use, a probe Miller requested earlier that day to address the charges.
Internal party pressure has increased as Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH), Miller’s former father-in-law, called for the congressman to resign, stating he is unfit for office. While some Republicans have joined this call, Johnson and senior House leadership have not requested Miller's resignation. In the same interview, Johnson addressed a separate Ethics Committee report regarding Rep. Chuck Edwards (N.C.), who was accused of sexual harassment. Following Johnson's comments that Edwards needed to "do the right thing," Edwards announced he would not seek reelection.
For constituents in Ohio’s affected district, the primary impact involves the stability of their representation and the potential for a change in candidates just months before the election. The allegations involve high-level security and safety concerns, including claims of violence involving a firearm and injury to a minor. While Miller maintains his innocence and cites support from former President Donald Trump, the formal Ethics Committee process will determine if he faces House sanctions such as censure or expulsion, which would require a two-thirds vote of the chamber.
The precedent set by Johnson’s "intellectually consistent" approach means that members facing criminal or ethical allegations will likely remain in their committee assignments and maintain their voting rights until a formal report is issued. This mirrors the handling of both Miller and Edwards, though the latter chose to end his campaign following the committee's findings of "unprofessional and inappropriate conduct." The next steps for Miller include the ongoing Ethics Committee probe and the looming ballot withdrawal deadline at the end of the week.