Former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham has filed for a restraining order against Rep. Max Miller, the Ohio Republican whom she has previously accused of abusing her during their past relationship.
The filing comes after Grisham sued Miller last month, alleging he violated the terms of a nondisclosure agreement during a June interview with Spectrum News. It was not immediately clear why she sought the restraining order.
Grisham’s attorney, Mark Zaid, did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the latest filing.
Grisham and Miller briefly dated during President Donald Trump’s first administration, when Miller served as a special assistant to the president. In her 2021 memoir, “I’ll Take Your Questions Now,” Grisham wrote that she had been physically abused by a former boyfriend. She later identified that individual as Miller.
Miller responded by filing a defamation lawsuit against Grisham. The case was ultimately settled in August 2023, just weeks before it was scheduled to go to trial.
Following that settlement, Miller had previously declined to answer questions about Grisham. His office also declined to comment Tuesday regarding the restraining order request.
During a June 5 interview with Spectrum News, Miller addressed abuse allegations made by both Grisham and his former wife, Emily Moreno.
“Without question, every allegation should be taken seriously,” Miller said. He also noted that Grisham’s allegations became public on the same day her book was released. Miller further stated that his ex-wife had been with him throughout that period of his life and, according to him, would say he never committed the alleged acts.
The controversy intensified over the weekend when Sen. Bernie Moreno, Miller’s former father-in-law, publicly called on the congressman to resign and argued that 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 wrote on X.
Moreno added that he believes Miller poses a danger to his daughter and said he worries whenever the congressman has custody of his granddaughter. He also argued that Miller does not meet the standards of character expected of an elected official.
Miller married Emily Moreno in 2022 during a ceremony at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in New Jersey. He filed for divorce in August 2024 on the couple’s second wedding anniversary.
The pair currently share custody of their 2-year-old daughter, though Emily Moreno is seeking full custody.
According to court filings and police reports, Emily Moreno has accused Miller of shoving her, pouring scalding water on her and causing burns, and putting a gun to her head. Miller has denied those allegations.
She also expressed concerns earlier this year about their daughter suffering a broken collarbone and what a police report described as an apparent handprint bruise on the child’s shoulder.
Miller faces a Wednesday deadline to withdraw from his House race if Republicans are to nominate a replacement, but he has so far declined to step aside.
A recent Democrat-sponsored poll of Ohio’s 7th Congressional District showed Miller leading his Bernie Sanders-backed opponent, Brian Poindexter, by one percentage point in a district Trump carried by 11 points in 2024.
President Trump was asked about the situation Monday and said, “It’s a very sad thing. I know Max. He’s a good person. I’m going to let the families figure that out. But it’s accusations, and I’m gonna let them figure that out.”
On Sunday, Miller released a collection of records that he argued would clear his name. The materials, however, 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.
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