Sen. Jon Husted said Thursday his fellow Ohio Republican, Rep. Max Miller, should “step aside as a candidate and resign from Congress” — breaking days of silence about the burgeoning controversy over domestic abuse claims that Miller denies.
Husted serves alongside Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), the father of Miller’s ex-wife. He remained quiet on the issue this week even after Bernie Moreno broke his own silence Sunday to denounce Miller as unfit for office and in need of “professional help.”
Husted said in his latest statement he does “not see how a campaign for Congress benefits” Miller, ex-wife Emily Moreno or their daughter.
“I believe Max 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,” Husted added. “Years from now, I believe he will look back and know it was the right choice for her.”
A spokesperson for Miller did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Miller has repeatedly denied the allegations, which include drawing a gun on Emily Moreno and breaking their child’s collarbone, and called them “politically motivated” in a CNN interview this week.
Earlier in the week, Husted said he was “sad about the situation” and said he hoped President Donald Trump would “help move things along.” Miller spoke to Trump earlier this week but said afterward he had no plans to resign.
Husted’s statement came as several Senate Republicans spoke out in support of the Moreno family. Sen. Tim Sheehy of Montana said earlier on Thursday that Miller should “step aside and seek help,” calling him “a degenerate sociopath.”
Husted issued his statement as another prominent Ohio Republican, Vice President JD Vance, addressed Senate Republicans at a Capitol Hill lunch hosted by Bernie Moreno. Vance has not publicly commented on the matter.
The controversies around Miller have threatened what had been considered a safe Republican district, with Democratic nominee Brian Poindexter mounting a strong campaign to deny Miller a third term. The White House has privately pushed for Miller to drop out of the race before Monday — the deadline for Ohio Republicans to replace his name on the ballot.
The House Ethics Committee said earlier this week it is investigating the domestic abuse allegations as well as claims of illegal drug use by Miller — a probe the lawmaker asked for in a bid to clear his name. Speaker Mike Johnson subsequently told POLITICO in an interview that he would allow that investigation to run its course and would not call on Miller to step down or end his candidacy.
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