Max Miller faces ex-wife's restraining order request amid custody battle before reelection bid

CLEVELAND, OHIO: Rep. Max Miller's contentious custody battle with his ex-wife has taken another turn after a new court filing sought a restraining order preventing the Ohio Republican from contacting her attorney.

The request, filed Thursday, July 30, comes as Miller continues to deny allegations made against him while insisting he will remain in the race for a third term. The latest legal filing adds to months of accusations and counterclaims that have increasingly overshadowed Miller's reelection campaign, with both sides continuing to dispute each other's version of events.

Emily Moreno seeks restraining order over alleged attorney interactions

According to court filings, Miller's ex-wife, Emily Moreno, asked a court to bar the congressman from contacting her attorney, Andrew Zashin, alleging that he has repeatedly confronted him following recent custody hearings.

Moreno claimed Miller had both physical and verbal altercations with Zashin after court appearances.

She alleged that after a hearing in May, Miller insulted Zashin's fiancee in front of witnesses at an Ohio courthouse.

She further claimed that following another hearing this week, Miller physically grabbed both Zashin and another attorney.

In an affidavit, Moreno wrote that "Unless restrained," Miller "will continue to harass, threaten, and communicate with my counsel directly."

She also alleged that he had similarly "harassed, threatened, and communicated directly" with members of her previous legal teams.

The former couple, who married in 2022 and divorced in June 2025, already have court-ordered restraining orders against one another and continue to share custody of their young daughter.

Custody dispute continues to impact Max Miller's reelection campaign

The restraining order request comes as Miller continues to face allegations detailed in court documents and police reports reviewed by CBS News.

Moreno has made claims against Miller related to their custody dispute, including allegations involving incidents during exchanges and disagreements between the former couple.

According to a police report, Moreno described an alleged February 1 incident during a custody exchange at Miller's Bay Village home.

The report also referenced an incident involving their daughter, who was later diagnosed with a fractured collarbone.

An officer wrote that bruising observed alongside the injury "appears to be a handprint and appears to have been inflicted."

Moreno also made additional claims about incidents during their marriage, including a dispute involving hot water from a pan of eggs.

Miller has disputed that account, describing the incident as "horseplay" and saying he sprayed her with water from a kitchen sink sprayer instead.

Max Miller denies claims and vows to remain in race

Miller has repeatedly denied all allegations made against him.

Speaking during a livestream on X on Sunday, he declared, "I'm not getting out of this race, and I'm winning in November."

He also rejected claims made by Moreno, arguing the accusations were intended to influence their ongoing custody dispute.

Miller said Moreno had made "serious and destructive allegations with absolutely no evidence."

In court, he also stated that "she is making allegations against me... that never happened," while claiming he possessed video and text message evidence supporting his account.

His campaign likewise defended him, pointing to the fact that he continues to share joint custody of his daughter.

Campaign spokeswoman Abigail Angelos said, "The facts speak for themselves: the court has continued to permit him joint custody of his child. If there were credible evidence supporting these outrageous accusations, that simply would not be the case."