Max Miller court hearing opens on contempt motion after hallway confrontation with ex-wife
Key Takeaways
- •Emily Moreno's attorney sought an oral contempt motion after Miller allegedly approached and said upsetting words to her in a courthouse hallway, but the judge declined to proceed on it.
- •The parties privately settled the motion before the court, agreeing that neither side would contact the other's lawyers outside depositions and that future depositions would be held at neutral sites.
- •Moreno has accused Miller of abusing her during their marriage, including an allegation that he held a gun to her head, allegations that Miller denies.
- •Miller made a veiled remark suggesting his former father-in-law, Senator Bernie Moreno, wants him to remain quiet about certain matters, while the senator has called for Miller to leave Congress.
- •The judge warned twice that emotions were no excuse for violating court orders, and the parties are scheduled to return to court next month.
A court hearing for Rep. Max Miller (R-OH) began Wednesday on an unplanned contempt motion, minutes after the Trump-endorsed Republican congressman confronted the ex-wife he allegedly abused in a courthouse hallway.
The hearing in Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court had been scheduled to address a written request for a restraining order against Miller, according to News 5 Cleveland. Emily Moreno has accused Miller of abuse during their marriage, including holding a gun to her head, CNN reported. Miller denies the allegation.
Before the court could reach that motion, Moreno's attorney, Andrew Zashin, raised what had happened outside the courtroom.
"In a hallway Max approached Emily and said words that were upsetting to her, and for that reason we asked for a motion for oral contempt, which the judge wouldn't go forward on," Zashin said.
Miller's attorneys then canvassed people in the hall, including a News 5 photographer, asking whether anyone had seen anything.
"We said 'Could we have your tape?' He said 'Subpoena it.' The tape will show Max didn't do anything," attorney Larry Zukerman said.
The News 5 reporter in the hall said no words were exchanged that the outlet witnessed. Miller has not denied the encounter himself.
The motion the court had convened to hear concerned a separate incident last month. The two sides settled it themselves, News 5 reported, agreeing that neither party would contact the other's lawyers outside depositions and that future depositions would be held at neutral sites.
"To the extent they claim victory, if by victory they mean Max avoids taking the stand, sure that's a victory, but he's running out of rope," Zashin said.
Mother Jones reporter Abby Vesoulis sought an interview with Miller at the courthouse. He initially agreed to speak with her before turning the questions over to his lawyer.
"I was a part of that family for a very long time. There are certain things that he would like me to remain quiet about," Miller told Mother Jones, making a veiled threat to his former father-in-law, Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH). Miller did not say what he meant.
Bernie Moreno, who sat in the courtroom with his daughter, has called on Miller to leave Congress, and CNN reported that the judge had twice warned that emotions were no excuse for violating court orders.
"But really, what today showed me is that the animosity between these two families is intense and is continuing," Abby Vesoulis said.
The parties are set to return to court next month, News 5 reported.
