Former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham has sought a restraining order against embattled Rep. Max Miller, escalating a legal and political mess already threatening the Ohio Republican’s reelection fight.
Grisham, who served in the first Trump administration, previously accused Miller of abusing her during their relationship.
She sued Miller last month, alleging he violated their nondisclosure agreement during a June interview with Spectrum News.
It was not immediately clear why Grisham sought the restraining order.
Her attorney, Mark Zaid, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Miller and Grisham briefly dated during the first Trump administration, when Miller worked as a special assistant to President Donald Trump.
In her 2021 memoir, “I’ll Take Your Questions Now,” Grisham accused an unnamed ex-boyfriend of physically abusing her during their relationship.
She later identified that person as Miller.
Miller sued Grisham for defamation after the allegation surfaced.
The suit was settled in August 2023, just weeks before it was scheduled to go to trial.
Miller has previously refused to answer questions from The Post about Grisham because of that settlement.
The lawmaker’s team declined comment Tuesday.
In the June 5 interview at the center of Grisham’s latest lawsuit, Miller referenced abuse allegations made by both Grisham and his ex-wife, Emily Moreno.
“Without question, every allegation should be taken seriously,” he told Spectrum News at the time. “What should be noted is that allegation came out on the same day as somebody’s book launch. And the other part, what I would like to discuss, is my ex-wife was with me every single day during that time of my life … and she, in her own words, will tell you that I never did any of those things.”
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The restraining-order filing lands as Miller is already under growing pressure from inside Republican politics.
On Sunday, Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, Miller’s former father-in-law, called on the congressman to resign and said he needs psychological help.
“Out of concern for the safety of my family, I hoped to keep this matter private, but Max Miller’s increasingly erratic and dangerous behavior has made that impossible,” Moreno posted on X.
“He is a danger to my daughter, and I hold my breath every minute he has custody of my granddaughter. If there are any basic standards of character required to hold elected office, Max Miller fails them.”
Miller married Emily Moreno in 2022 at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in New Jersey.
He filed for divorce in August 2024, on their second wedding anniversary.
The former couple share custody of their 2-year-old daughter, though Moreno is seeking full custody.
Emily Moreno has alleged in court documents and police reports that Miller shoved her, dumped scalding water on her that left burn marks and put a gun to her head.
Miller has denied those allegations.
Moreno has also raised concerns about their daughter’s broken collarbone and “what appeared to be a handprint bruise” on the child’s shoulder earlier this year, according to a police report.
The allegations have turned Miller’s once-safe-looking Republican seat into a headache for the GOP.
Miller has until Wednesday to step aside so Republicans can nominate a replacement in his House race, but he has so far refused to quit.
A recent Democrat-sponsored poll of Ohio’s 7th District showed Miller ahead by just one point against Bernie Sanders-backed Democrat Brian Poindexter.
Donald Trump carried the district by 11 percentage points in 2024.
That has left Republicans staring at an avoidable political problem in a district they should not have to sweat.
Trump addressed the allegations Monday but stopped short of calling for Miller to leave the race.
“It’s a very sad thing. I know Max. He’s a good person. I’m going to let the families figure that out,” President Trump told reporters Monday. “But it’s accusations, and I’m gonna let them figure that out.”
On Sunday, Miller released a trove of records he said would clear him.
But the release also included audio in which he acknowledged his ex-wife’s claims that he dumped hot water on her in 2024, as well as audio of her accusing him of drug use.
For Miller, the legal pressure is now coming from more than one direction.
His ex-wife is fighting him in custody court.
His former girlfriend is seeking a restraining order.
And Ohio Republicans are running out of time to decide whether keeping him on the ballot is worth the risk.
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