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Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., told NBC News’ “Meet the Press” Sunday that embattled Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio, who is facing abuse allegations, should drop his re-election bid and resign “if the allegations are true.”
Miller’s ex-wife Emily Moreno, the daughter of Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno of Ohio, accused the congressman of domestic violence. Miller has not faced criminal charges related to the allegations and vehemently denied them and has vowed to stay in the race.
“The allegations against him are terrible, and if he’s endangering a seat in Congress as we’re trying to keep the majority in the House, and he should drop out if he’s endangering that seat,” Banks told “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker. “He should drop out because of the allegations against him.”
The domestic violence allegations rocketed across the national political landscape after Miller posted a livestream denying them, prompting Sen. Moreno to publicly denounce his former son-in-law. Miller later called for the House Ethics Committee to investigate the allegations against him, saying he has “absolutely nothing to hide.”
Emily Moreno has accused Miller of throwing her against a wall, holding a gun to her head and throwing hot water on her, according to documents her lawyer released. Miller sued his ex-wife alleging defamation, and her lawyers moved to dismiss the lawsuit. Sen. Moreno said in a statement this month that Miller “is a danger to my daughter, and I hold my breath every minute he has custody of my granddaughter.”
Asked whether he believed Miller should resign from office, Banks said, “If the allegations are true and watching this play out publicly, of course he should resign.”
“I don’t know enough about the political dynamics, but I’ve watched the allegations, they’re deeply troubling, and I pray for all involved, especially the kid, and hope that justice prevails in this case,” Banks said.
A spokesperson for Miller did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Banks is the latest Republican to publicly call for Miller to step aside. Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., called Miller “a degenerate sociopath” and said he should step aside. Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, has said that Miller “would be making the right decision to step aside as a candidate and resign from Congress to focus on what is in the best interest of his daughter.” Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., and Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., have told media outlets that Miller should resign.
A spokesperson for the office of the Ohio secretary of state has told NBC News that Monday is the deadline to replace a candidate. Miller was expected to headline an event in his district on Monday, but the Republican organization canceled the event days ago, citing security concerns.
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Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., told NBC News’ “Meet the Press” Sunday that embattled Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio, who is facing abuse allegations, should drop his re-election bid and resign “if the allegations are true.”
Miller’s ex-wife, Emily Moreno, the daughter of Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno of Ohio, accused the congressman of domestic violence. Miller has not faced criminal charges related to the allegations and vehemently denied them and has vowed to stay in the race.
“The allegations against him are terrible, and if he’s endangering a seat in Congress as we’re trying to keep the majority in the House, and he should drop out if he’s endangering that seat,” Banks told “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker. “He should drop out because of the allegations against him.”
The domestic violence allegations rocketed across the national political landscape after Miller posted a livestream denying them, prompting Sen. Moreno to publicly denounce his former son-in-law. Miller later called for the House Ethics Committee to investigate the allegations against him, saying he has “absolutely nothing to hide.”
Emily Moreno has accused Miller of throwing her against a wall, holding a gun to her head and throwing hot water on her, according to documents her lawyer released. Miller sued his ex-wife, alleging defamation, and her lawyers moved to dismiss the lawsuit. Sen. Moreno said in a statement this month that Miller “is a danger to my daughter, and I hold my breath every minute he has custody of my granddaughter.”
Asked whether he believed Miller should resign from office, Banks said, “If the allegations are true and watching this play out publicly, of course he should resign.”
“I don’t know enough about the political dynamics, but I’ve watched the allegations, they’re deeply troubling, and I pray for all involved, especially the kid, and hope that justice prevails in this case,” Banks said.
A spokesperson for Miller did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Banks is the latest Republican to publicly call for Miller to step aside. Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., called Miller “a degenerate sociopath” and said he should step aside. Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, has said that Miller “would be making the right decision to step aside as a candidate and resign from Congress to focus on what is in the best interest of his daughter.” Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., and Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., have told media outlets that Miller should resign.
A spokesperson for the office of the Ohio secretary of state has told NBC News that Monday is the deadline to replace a candidate. Miller was expected to headline an event in his district on Monday, but the Republican organization canceled the event days ago, citing security concerns.
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Max Miller is refusing to drop his bid for reelection. Here's what voters think
Max Miller is refusing to drop his bid for reelection. Here's what voters think
Voters in Ohio's 7th Congressional district react to calls for Rep. Max Miller to drop his bid for reelection. He ran uncontested in the May 5 GOP primary. The Democratic nominee is Brian Poindexter.
AYESHA RASCOE, HOST:
In Ohio, a troubled candidate says he's forging ahead with his reelection campaign. According to court documents, Representative Max Miller's ex-wife accused him of attacking her with boiling water and breaking their daughter's collarbone. Miller strongly denies the allegations.
Now the congressman faces calls to end his campaign and resign from Congress, including from both of Ohio's senators, Jon Husted and Bernie Moreno. Moreno is Miller's former father-in-law. Ideastream Public Media's Gabriel Kramer went to Miller's district to find out what voters think of the controversy.
GABRIEL KRAMER, BYLINE: The Medina County Fair is taking place in the heart of Ohio's 7th Congressional District with carnival rides...
(SOUNDBITE OF CARNIVAL RIDES RUNNING)
KRAMER: ...Cows and sheep...
(SOUNDBITE OF SHEEP BLEATING)
KRAMER: ...And plenty of fried pickles, cheese and Oreos.
(SOUNDBITE OF FRYING FOOD)
KRAMER: Congressman Max Miller has been favored to win his reelection here in part because of this historically conservative county. Republican voter Braeden Huth from Medina says Miller should end his campaign.
BRAEDEN HUTH: I support Max Miller, but I believe he should drop out and listen to what Husted says. And Bernie's a smart man. If Bernie says it's true, then it's probably true.
KRAMER: Huth does not think Miller can win.
HUTH: Due to the allegations, I don't think he'll win the race. The publicity's bad.
KRAMER: Miller is under pressure to drop out after accusations of domestic violence resurfaced recently. He denies the allegations. But voter Huth suggests a Republican replacement candidate would be better. The recently redrawn district also includes parts of neighboring Cuyahoga County, though not Cleveland, its largest city, but mostly its predominantly white suburbs.
(SOUNDBITE OF TENNIS BALLS BOUNCING)
KRAMER: One of those suburbs is Strongsville, where a park is crowded with pickleball and tennis players as children play in a nearby splash pad. Democratic voter Chris King is walking his dog.
CHRIS KING: It's ridiculous that people could still support somebody who beats his wife, threatens people. He even threatens his father-in-law, who's a sitting senator.
KRAMER: Fellow Democrat Denice Cipiti says...
DENICE CIPITI: I hope he doesn't drop out.
KRAMER: But for strategic reasons.
CIPITI: Because I think he's going to lose for all his personal stuff. Yeah. He's a jerk. He's a womanizer. I don't think he has good qualities.
KRAMER: This small city has its own Republican organization called the Strongsville GOP that canceled a rally for Miller that it had scheduled for Monday. Strongsville GOP Chairman Shannon Burns says in a statement, quote, "in the United States of America, threats and intimidation have succeeded in shutting down a peaceful political gathering focused on election integrity."
The Cook Political Report labels this congressional race between Miller and Democrat Brian Poindexter as likely Republican. Local political analyst Tom Sutton says he does not expect Miller to drop out of the race.
TOM SUTTON: He has requested a probe of the Ethics Committee into the situation that he's in. I think he is banking on the possibility that the Ethics Committee will come out with something that is less than a censure.
KRAMER: You think what's happened here with Max Miller has made it possible for the Democrats to win this district.
SUTTON: I think it has. These are voters that - they're not MAGA voters necessarily. And so they're conservative Republicans. It's not that they're not going to vote, but they may not vote in this race. It's also not that they're going to vote for Brian Poindexter, the Democrat. They're simply not going to vote, and there's going to be that gap, I think, that's going to emerge that Poindexter might wind up winning the seat.
KRAMER: Back at the Medina County Fair, volunteers for the county's Republican organization were instructed to provide the following statement to press that approached their booth. Quote, "as with any accusation, there is a presumption of innocence until guilt is proven. We respectfully ask you to allow the system to work and all the processes play out before passing judgment," end quote.
Miller has until Monday to drop out of the race while giving the Republican Party a chance to replace him on the November ballot.
For NPR News, I'm Gabriel Kramer in Medina, Ohio.
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