Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio, is facing a federal civil rights lawsuit filed by his former wife, Emily Moreno, who alleges that an intimate photograph of their 2-year-old daughter was improperly made public during the congressman’s efforts to defend himself against allegations of domestic abuse.
The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, names Miller, attorney Aaron Minc and Minc’s law firm as defendants.
According to Moreno’s attorneys, the photograph showed the child’s exposed genital area and was allegedly included without adequate redaction in a publicly accessible Dropbox folder. Miller had promoted the folder online while attempting to counter Moreno’s accusations against him.
Moreno has accused Miller of serious domestic abuse, including allegations that he threw scalding water at her, held a gun to her head and may have harmed their daughter. Miller has strongly denied the allegations, describing them as false claims arising from a contentious divorce and custody dispute.
Minc has acknowledged responsibility for compiling and redacting documents for publication, saying the photograph was posted accidentally. Miller has also apologized for the image becoming publicly available, saying there was no intention to expose it.
Minc, however, has disputed Moreno’s characterization of the photograph and said it did not show the child’s genitalia.
Moreno’s lawsuit alleges that Miller “recklessly and intentionally” authorized the release of the materials. The complaint claims that social-media posts directing users to the Dropbox folder generated more than 400,000 views and that the photograph remained accessible online for approximately 23 hours.
The lawsuit seeks $150,000 in statutory damages for each alleged disclosure or transfer under federal law, in addition to damages and other remedies under Ohio law.
The controversy has also created a growing political headache for Republicans, who are attempting to protect their narrow majority in the House of Representatives.
Miller has rejected calls to resign or withdraw from the 2026 reelection race. Among those urging him to step aside is Moreno’s father, Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno of Ohio.
The House Ethics Committee is separately reviewing allegations involving Miller, adding another layer of scrutiny as he campaigns for another term.
Miller’s decision to remain in the race has also created a challenge for Republicans in his traditionally GOP-leaning district. With the deadline for replacing him on the ballot having passed, national Democrats are seeking to capitalize on the controversy by supporting Democratic challenger Brian Poindexter.
The lawsuit and ethics review leave Miller facing both legal and political pressure as he continues his reelection campaign.