Three women have accused Ohio Rep. Max Miller of physical abuse. He has sued two of them for defamation, including his ex-wife, Emily Moreno.
Now a Mother Jones investigation shows that the threats don't stop there. TV stations, a political organizer, his ex-wife's lawyer and his ex-father-in-law have all gotten warnings from Miller or his lawyers. Miller is asking voters for another term on November 3.
Even the reporter got one. Before Mother Jones published its July story on the abuse allegations, Miller's spokesman told her that Miller has "many defamation lawyers."
Who got threatened
TV stations. In September, Miller sent cease-and-desist letters — legal letters demanding that someone stop — to local stations running an ad from his opponent, Brian Poindexter, about the abuse allegations. The stations ran it anyway.
A Democratic organizer. In August, Amanda Litman got a cease-and-desist after she posted that Miller had "broken his toddler's collarbone." Miller was investigated over his daughter's broken collarbone, but the case was ruled "unsubstantiated" and nobody was charged. Litman deleted the post and wrote about it.
His ex-wife's lawyer. During the divorce, Miller wanted Moreno's lawyer, Vince Stafford, to move faster. So he emailed Stafford about a murder case.
Here's the case: Stafford and his brother ran a law firm. A lawyer who worked there, Gregory Moore, is about to go on trial for the 2013 murder of one of the firm's clients. A separate lawsuit claims the firm helped him. Joseph Stafford, the brother, told Mother Jones those claims are "false."
Miller told Stafford he would go public about it. "You and your brother's alleged involvement in this is awful," he wrote in one email. In another:
"I will be commenting on this if I do not hear anything by end of day. … Don't salivate. I'm smart enough not to be sued for defamation. I'll wait until this evening. Enjoy the beautiful day outside!!"
Moreno's lawyers used those emails when they asked a court for a restraining order against Miller. Vince Stafford declined to comment.
His ex-father-in-law, a U.S. senator. Moreno's father is Ohio Sen. Bernie Moreno. Miller texted him: "everyone is going to get to know you better than your wife does. Enjoy the ride brother, I wouldn't have to do this if you could keep your lying daughter under control." The text was filed in their custody case. We covered it in July.
Mother Jones asked Miller, his spokespeople and his lawyers whether any of this was meant as a threat. They declined to respond.
Why it matters
A congressman has things ordinary people don't: a platform, a staff and money for lawyers. Miller has been referred for an ethics investigation, and the House Ethics Committee has opened a probe. Meanwhile, the people who could tell voters what they know keep getting letters telling them to be quiet.
What the records show
Max Miller has sent legal threats to TV stations and a political organizer who talked about the abuse allegations against him. In emails filed in court, he told his ex-wife's lawyer he would go public about the lawyer's "alleged involvement" in a murder case unless the divorce moved faster. And he texted his ex-father-in-law, a U.S. senator, that "everyone is going to get to know you better than your wife does."
Source
How Rep. Max Miller and His Lawyer Try to Silence Foes — Mother Jones
