Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
House Speaker Mike Johnson addressed his position regarding Representative Max Miller as Congress reconvened after a monthlong recess. Johnson responded to a question from CNN’s Manu Raju on Monday about whether he would endorse Miller for re-election in light of domestic violence allegations from his ex-wife.
“Yes,” Johnson stated, according to a video shared by Raju on X. “He has been a great member of Congress. He has some issues in his personal life he’s working through. The House Ethics Committee is looking into that and any implications it may have.”
Johnson emphasized the importance of allowing due process to unfold, saying, “And, as usual, you know, you’ve heard me say it a thousand times, we have to let due process play out.”
The House Ethics Committee initiated an investigation into Miller earlier this month regarding allegations of abuse against his ex-wife and their 2-year-old daughter.
In court documents, Miller’s ex-wife, Emily Moreno, accused him of various forms of abuse, including holding a gun to her head, beating her, pouring hot water on her, and fracturing their daughter’s collarbone.
Moreno’s father, Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno, supported his daughter’s claims, stating that Miller “needs to seek professional help to end the clear pattern of abuse he has left in his wake.”
Miller has denied all allegations and stated that he would continue his re-election campaign. He also mentioned plans to submit documents to the committee to clear his name.
“I am going to file my own paperwork for an ethics investigation into myself to clear my name from these horrific attacks on myself and family,” he wrote on X. “I have absolutely nothing to hide. We will be providing the committee all necessary documents needed for a detail [sic] examination.”
Johnson was previously questioned about Miller’s allegations during an interview with Politico after Miller suggested to CNN’s Jake Tapper that he believed he had the House Speaker’s support. At that time, Johnson did not provide a definitive answer regarding his endorsement of Miller.
“I think what Max is suggesting there is that I’ve been intellectually consistent,” he said on The Conversation with Dasha Burns. “We don’t take disciplinary action against members for allegations.”
“There’s all sorts of domestic events going on with 435 members of Congress all the time; it’s not my business to get engaged in it,” Johnson continued. “I think Max is taking them [the allegations] seriously. I think our colleagues are,” he added. “But, again, we have to allow this process to play out. It’s just begun.”
Read more at The Daily Beast.