Ohio Republican congressman Max Miller's attempt to publicly clear himself of domestic abuse allegations triggered a new controversy after unredacted images of his two-year-old daughter appeared in a Dropbox folder shared with his defence materials.
Miller's attorney, Aaron Minc, admitted responsibility on 4 August 2026, saying the release was accidental, while lawyers for Miller's ex-wife, Emily Moreno, said the files exposed the child in a state of undress.
The images appeared in documents promoted during a livestream Miller posted on X as he denied claims that he abused Moreno or their daughter. Moreno's legal team said Miller's post containing the link drew more than 204,000 views before the sensitive material was removed, escalating an already public custody and defamation battle.
Minc said he had tried to redact the girl's name and image but missed the final three pages of a document running more than 40 pages.
A Redaction Failure With Serious Consequences
'It was completely unintentional and a mistake,' Minc said, adding: 'To be clear, this was my fault. I am solely responsible for what happened.' He apologised to Miller, Moreno, both families and especially the child.
However, he disputed Moreno's lawyers' description of the images, saying they did not show the child's genitals and instead depicted her without a shirt. Moreno's attorney, Subodh Chandra, said the material could potentially be considered child sexual abuse material because the child appeared exposed.
Senator Bernie Moreno, Emily Moreno's father and Miller's former father-in-law, said his granddaughter had been shown 'completely naked' and called the explanation that the disclosure was a mistake 'grotesque'. The descriptions remain disputed, but both sides agree that private, unredacted images of the child were accessible online.
Hours before the House Ethics Committee announced a review, Miller said he would request an ethics investigation into himself to clear his name. 'I have absolutely nothing to hide,' the two-term representative for Ohio's 7th Congressional District wrote, promising to provide documents for a detailed examination.
Miller, a former senior adviser to Donald Trump who sits on the House Ways and Means and Foreign Affairs committees, has denied abusing Moreno or their child. The bipartisan House Ethics Committee said it was reviewing allegations that Miller may have engaged in domestic violence and abuse or illegal drug use.
It stressed that opening a review does not mean a violation occurred. Miller has argued that accusations against him have shifted while his account has remained consistent.
What the Abuse Allegations Include
Court filings and publicly released transcripts show Moreno accusing Miller of pouring hot water on her, injuring her neck and engaging in emotional abuse. In the transcript, Miller denied intentionally hurting her and described the water incident as playful, while acknowledging that he apologised after she said she was hurt.
Moreno has also alleged that Miller threatened her with a gun and endangered their daughter, claims he denies.
The former couple married in 2022, share a daughter born in 2023 and later entered a contested divorce and custody dispute.
Miller filed a defamation lawsuit against Moreno in May 2026 over her allegations, saying they damaged him personally, professionally and politically.
The release has now shifted attention from the evidence Miller hoped would defend him to the privacy breach created by publishing it.
Political Pressure Builds
Senator Bernie Moreno has urged that Miller should not continue serving in Congress, saying he falls short of the character expected from an elected official. His criticism has added political weight to allegations that were already unfolding through court filings and public statements.
Moreno has also argued that the release of the child's images should not be treated as a minor technical error. Miller has refused to withdraw from his re-election campaign and said he still expects to win in November.
The House Ethics Committee has not announced a timeline for its review, and it has stressed that opening an inquiry does not establish wrongdoing. Until that process moves forward, the abuse allegations, privacy breach and Miller's political future are likely to remain under close scrutiny.
