Max Miller allegations force Trump, GOP into thorny spot

The domestic abuse allegations against Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) are forcing President Trump and Republicans into a difficult position ahead of the midterms as the party struggles to defend their congressional majorities. 

The president called the congressman on Monday to tell him his candidacy was on thin ice after earlier praising him publicly as “a good person,” telling reporters the allegations are “a very sad thing.”

Miller said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday that a “supportive” Trump told him during their call that his chances of winning reelection were growing slim.

The congressman said in a subsequent interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper that he told Trump he would be successful when the president expressed doubt over whether Miller could win. 

“He said, ‘Max, it’s going to be a tough race,’ and he said, ‘I don’t know if you’re going to be able to, you know, pull this one out.’ And you know what, Jake, I reminded him of the same resilience that he had when people told him that he was going to struggle in 2016 and he became the 45th president of the United States, and I have the utmost confidence that my constituents back home know me.”

However, a source familiar with the call told The Hill that Trump had informed Miller he should drop out. 

Senate Republicans have become increasingly vocal on the subject. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) said Miller shouldn’t be in office, and Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) called on Miller to resign on Monday. Those calls came after Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), who is the father of Miller’s ex-wife Emily Moreno, called on Miller to step down over the weekend. 

The growing coverage surrounding the allegations, which Miller has denied, risks putting the congressman’s relatively safe House seat in jeopardy. 

Miller would need to resign or drop out by Aug.10 for........

© The Hill