Trump team told other Republicans to stop trying to get accused abuser Max Miller to drop out of race: report

Last week, Trump administration officials reportedly had to ask Ohio Republicans not to engage in a public pressure campaign against Rep. Max Miller after the lawmaker refused to drop his re-election bid amid domestic abuse allegations.

In private conversations with party leaders and other Republicans in the state, White House officials indicated there was no point in pressuring Miller to drop out because the lawmaker was defiant about staying in the race, three people familiar with the matter told Politico.

“They basically told us to back off and let the voters decide,” one Ohio Republican involved in discussions told Politico.

Several Republicans had called on Miller to drop out after his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, accused him of physically abusing her and their toddler daughter. That pressure intensified after Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno, Emily’s father, said Miller was unfit to serve.

But Miller, 37, has vehemently denied the accusations against him and continued to pursue his re-election bid. The deadline for Miller to withdraw from his congressional race has already passed.

The Independent has contacted the White House for comment.

President Donald Trump spoke with Miller over the phone last week to inform him that his campaign was facing an uphill battle as a result of the allegations. But Miller remained firm that he would stay in the race, Axios reported.

Sensing Miller would not budge on dropping out, White House officials told Ohio Republicans that it would complicate messaging if those calling for Miller to abandon his efforts later had to endorse him.

On his call with Trump, Miller reportedly asked the president to issue a statement of public support, though Trump has not issued one. But the president also has not called on him to step down.

“I know Max, he’s a good person – I mean I always thought he was a very good person. And I’m going to let the families figure that out,” Trump told reporters last week. “It’s accusations, and I’m going to let them figure that out.”

The Ohio Republican has compared his fight against the abuse allegations to Trump’s fight for the White House despite his scandal-ridden history.

“No one has told me to get off the ballot and that’s because they know I can win this seat,” Miller told CNN’s Jake Tapper last week.

Miller has remained so assured of his decision that he’s asked the House Ethics Committee to investigate the allegations against him, claiming he has “nothing to hide.” The committee said Tuesday it would investigate whether Miller engaged in domestic violence as well as illegal drug use.

The allegations against Miller have arisen after his divorce and amid a custody battle.

Emily Moreno has accused Miller of throwing hot water on her, holding a gun to her head, throwing her against a wall and fracturing their 2-year-old daughter’s collarbone.

Miller has maintained his ex-wife’s assertions are false and claimed she is mentally unstable.

While the accusations could hurt Miller’s campaign, Republican campaign officials are reportedly not too concerned because Miller’s districts lean conservative, the Washington Post reported.