Little blue bunny threatens to take down Trump-backed congressman: Read savage whispers, troubling texts and brutal smears as Republicans go to war
Republican congressman Max Miller of Ohio is resisting pressure to abandon his re-election campaign amid domestic-abuse allegations from his former wife, Emily Moreno, which he denies. The dispute has intensified divisions within the Republican Party, including with Moreno’s father, Senator Bernie Moreno, and has raised concerns that the party could lose Miller’s competitive Cleveland-area seat.
The article highlights a custody dispute over the couple’s two-year-old daughter’s blue stuffed bunny, which Miller is accused of withholding; it has become a symbol of their broader personal and political conflict. Miller has released documents in his defence and says he will remain in the race, despite a House Ethics Committee investigation and doubts reportedly expressed by Donald Trump; Ohio Republicans face an August 10 deadline to replace him on the November ballot if he withdraws.
- Max Miller faces growing pressure to quit over abuse allegations he denies.
- A custody dispute over a blue bunny has become politically damaging.
- Republicans fear losing Miller’s competitive Ohio seat.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Domestic abuse allegations warrant serious consideration and investigation, particularly when involving a child and raising credible concerns about a candidate's character and judgment. The party has a legitimate interest in ensuring candidates can effectively serve without distraction or reputational damage; stepping aside during such serious investigations allows the democratic process to function more cleanly and protects the seat by enabling a stronger, unencumbered alternative to emerge.
The case against
Allegations, however serious, do not establish guilt, and Miller's right to run and defend himself should be protected by fundamental due process principles. Pressuring withdrawal based on unresolved accusations rather than adjudication sets a troubling precedent where mere allegations can end political careers. The appropriate venue for determining facts is the Ethics Committee investigation; voters, informed by its conclusions, should ultimately decide whether to elect him.