<p>At least four Ohio television stations began airing a campaign advertisement from Democrat Brian Poindexter, which highlights domestic violence allegations against Rep. Max Miller (R-OH) in the congressional race.</p>
<p>The 30-second advertisement features a local sheriff stating that the Republican incumbent is unsuitable for office, referencing alleged abuse of his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, and their 2-year-old daughter.</p>
<p>“Max Miller’s wife has a restraining order against him. A judge signed it,” Summit County Sheriff Kandy Fatheree stated. “Court documents say that Miller beat her. Held a gun to her head. Child welfare found a broken collarbone on their 2-year-old, broken under his care and with suspicious bruising.”</p>
<p>In a cease-and-desist letter dated September 17, Miller’s lawyer Alejandro Brito claimed these statements were “false, malicious, and defamatory.” The letter requested that WKYC and other stations refrain from airing the ad, stating that they “will be doing so with knowledge that they are false” if they proceed.</p>
<p>Multiple television stations, including WKYC, began running the campaign ad on Tuesday morning. One station confirmed it received the cease-and-desist letter and explained its decision to air the ad.</p>
<p>“The WEWS-TV legal team evaluated the ad as we always do,” WEWS stated in an article. “Federal Communications Commission rules prohibit stations from censoring ads purchased by candidates like Poindexter. Therefore, the ad will air.”</p>
<p>The ad concluded with Fatheree stating, “34 years in law enforcement tells me Max Miller does not belong in power.”</p>
<p>Poindexter expressed satisfaction that the ad was airing despite Miller’s legal threat, asserting that “people deserve the facts about” him.</p>
<p>The congressman’s office contested the ad’s claims about Miller, who continues to deny the allegations.</p>
<p>“The ad mentioned is filled with lies,” Miller spokeswoman Abigail Angelos said. “Each of the statements in the advertisement are entirely unsubstantiated and contradicted by evidence.”</p>
<p>Miller’s lawyer provided the recipients of the cease-and-desist letter until Monday to comply with the demand. Following their decision to ignore the legal threat, Miller may file a lawsuit seeking damages.</p>
<p>In response to the legal threat, Poindexter publicly tore the cease-and-desist letter in half, indicating he is not deterred by a potential defamation lawsuit.</p>
<p>Miller has faced scrutiny in recent weeks after he denied the abuse allegations in a video, claiming his ex-wife exhibited poor mental health. Moreno is the daughter of Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH), who criticized Miller, calling him unfit to serve and in need of psychological treatment.</p>
<p>Despite the ongoing controversy, President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) have not withdrawn their support for Miller. First elected to represent Ohio’s 7th Congressional District in November 2022, Miller is seeking a third term in the upcoming election cycle.</p>