PoliticsOhio Republican Rep. Max Miller Sued by Ex-Wife for Releasing Nude Photo of Young Daughter Amid Scandal
Rep. Max Miller was sued by his ex-wife for recklessly published a private photo of their 2-year-old daughter online.
Aug. 13 2026, Published 11:28 a.m. ET
Emily Moreno, the ex-wife of Ohio Republican Rep. Max Miller, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against him and his attorney on Wednesday, August 12, alleging they recklessly published a n--- photo of their 2-year-old daughter online.
In an attempt to defend himself against domestic violence claims leveled by Moreno, Miller shared a public Dropbox link containing legal and custody documents during a live broadcast on X.
The federal complaint states that the public folder included an unredacted photo displaying the child's uncovered genitalia.
Rep. Max Miller's Ex-Wife Seeks $150,000 in Damages
Ohio Republican Rep. Max Miller accidentally shared a Dropbox link to a folder including an unredacted photo of his child.
According to the filing, the image remained publicly accessible for 23 hours before being removed.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, seeks $150,000 in damages on behalf of the daughter, citing violations of federal and state laws regarding intimate visual depictions of minors.
Miller’s attorney, Aaron Minc, issued an apology stating that he inadvertently published an unedited version of the document and deleted it immediately upon discovery.
Politics or Morals?
Max Miller called public scrutiny surrounding the image a political attack.
Minc later contested the description of the photo, claiming that the child was partially clothed and that her genitals were not visible, which the plaintiff's counsel refuted using an independent pediatrician's review.
Miller has called the public scrutiny a political attack and has rejected calls to end his reelection bid, instead opening a House Ethics Committee investigation into his own conduct.
The lawsuit marks a severe escalation in a high-profile legal battle between the two prominent Ohio Republicans.
- MAGA Rep Max Miller Gives Desperate Defense to Allegations He Physically Abused His Ex-Wife and 2-Year-Old Daughter: 'All Hearsay'
- Melania Trump Criticized by Legal Expert for Staying 'Strangely Silent' on New Abuse Allegations Against Rep. Max Miller
- 'That's Too Bad': Donald Trump Reacts to Report That Claims Kristi Noem's Husband Has Been Participating in Online Fetish Forums
Want OK! each day? Sign up here!
Max Miller rejected calls to end his re-election campaign over the scandal.
Emily's father, Sen. Bernie Moreno, publicly condemned his former son-in-law, describing the situation as "the seventh level of h---" and stating that anyone responsible for distributing the image should face jail time.
Miller has officially refused to suspend his reelection campaign. Despite intense bipartisan pressure and the new lawsuit, Miller chose to stay in the race and let the crucial state deadlines pass.
The formal window for Ohio Republicans to replace Miller on the November midterm ballot closed at 4:00 p.m. EDT on Monday, August 10.
Trailing Behind in Polls
Recent polling shows Max Miller Miller trailing behind his Democratic opponent after the photo scandal.
Because Miller refused to withdraw by this deadline, the Republican Party has no legal avenue left under Ohio state law to substitute another candidate.
Ohio Republicans now have no practical choice but to leave his name on the ballot for the 7th Congressional District, despite warning signs from local party insiders that the scandal could cost them a traditionally safe seat.
Miller has repeatedly stated that he will "never back down," maintaining that his constituents know him and that the domestic and child abuse allegations are politically motivated fabrications.
Following the public fallout from the allegations and the controversial file dump, recent polling shows Miller trailing behind his Democratic opponent, union ironworker Brian Poindexter, by 14 percentage points.
