House GOP Conference Chair stands by Max Miller amid abuse allegations: 'He’s our nominee right now'

WASHINGTON, DC: House Republican Conference Chair Lisa McClain threw her support behind Rep Max Miller’s reelection campaign, even though he's facing domestic abuse allegations.

Speaking on CBS News' ‘Face the Nation’, the Michigan congresswoman said, “At the end of the day, he’s our nominee right now." She made it clear she hopes the accusations "aren't true," but for now, she's sticking with her Ohio colleague.

GOP leadership stands by Max Miller despite calls for him to drop out

McClain said that "divorces are ugly," but "at the end of the day, we got to let the process play out." 

"I'm focused on winning the House back, taking the House back, keeping the House because we are the only party that's actually putting more money in your pocket, making sure that crime is down, securing the border, and rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse," McClain said. "And Max Miller has been a good advocate for his constituents doing that." 

Despite numerous Republican lawmakers, including Senators Katie Britt, Jim Banks and John Husted, calling on Miller to drop out, GOP leadership is standing by Miller with the midterms approaching. House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters on August 31, "He's been a great member of Congress."

Background on the allegations against Max Miller

The abuse allegations against Miller made headlines when his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, went to court on July 30. She wanted a restraining order to stop Miller from contacting her lawyers.

Emily, who's the daughter of Senator Bernie Moreno from Ohio, accused Miller of verbally and physically abusing her as well as hurting their two-year-old daughter.

Miller has denied the allegations.

"My former wife is engaging in a pattern of reporting incredible, serious and destructive allegations with absolutely no evidence," Miller said in a livestream on August 2. "Every single one of these allegations were already investigated, and I cooperated fully every single time because I had nothing to hide."

Miller also distributed a link to a public Dropbox folder containing documents he said supported his defense against the allegations. His ex-girlfriend and former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham has also accused him of abuse. 

Senator Moreno in August said his daughter "lives in constant fear of this man," and he has to pick up his granddaughter at a police station for exchanges because he doesn't know "what this guy's capable of."

In order to prevent a special election primary in Ohio, Miller had to withdraw by August 4, and President Donald Trump had called Miller a day before the deadline to express his concerns, according to a source at CBS News at the time.

The Republicans have a narrow majority in the House, and it has generally been the case that the party in office suffers losses in midterm elections. Because of this, they have to work in order to keep every seat.