This story includes references to domestic violence and child abuse.
- The allegation that U.S. Rep. Max Miller, an Ohio Republican, threw boiling water at his then-wife, Emily Moreno, is still under investigation amid a bitter divorce and custody battle.
- On May 7, 2026, British tabloid the Daily Mail published a report claiming that Moreno, who is the daughter of Ohio Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno, accused Miller of throwing boiling water at her and beating her during a 2024 incident. The Daily Mail's story includes images appearing to show bruising and redness on Moreno's body from Miller's alleged abuse.
- On May 1
3 , Miller sued Moreno for defamation and denied all abuse allegations, including the claim that he threw boiling water at her. Miller also claimed in a May 8 X post that Sen. Bernie Moreno was funding his daughter's "malicious campaign" to "ruin" Miller's life despite the senator's "knowledge of her mental health issues." - A February 2026 police report from an investigation into suspected child abuse involving Miller's young daughter mentioned a "hot water" incident in relation to domestic violence, although the names in the report are redacted. The investigation determined in April 2026 that claims related to abuse were "unsubstantiated."
- Snopes will update this report if, or when, additional information surfaces. We await responses to our inquiries from the Morenos.
As U.S. Rep. Max Miller, an Ohio Republican, fought a lengthy custody battle with his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, a rumor spread in spring 2026 that the representative once threw boiling water at her.
The claim spread on X, Facebook and Threads.
Snopes readers also searched our website for information about whether Miller threw boiling water at Moreno.
The rumor originated from a May 7 report by the Daily Mail, a British tabloid, which claimed that Moreno accused Miller of "years of documented physical abuse," including an alleged 2024 incident where the congressman supposedly threw a pot of boiling water at Moreno, who is the daughter of Ohio Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno.
The Daily Mail's report relied on three anonymous sources, court filings the newspaper said it obtained and images appearing to show the aftermath of Miller's alleged abuse.
Miller has categorically denied Emily Moreno's allegations of his supposed abusive behavior, including in a defamation lawsuit filed against his ex-wife on May 13. In a May 8 X post (archived), Miller accused his ex-father-in-law, Sen. Bernie Moreno, of funding and enabling "his daughter's malicious campaign to ruin [Miller's] life despite [the senator's] knowledge of her mental health issues."
A spokesperson for Miller said via email that the
Moreno's attorney, Andrew Zashin, did not return repeated attempts to contact him. The journalist behind the Daily Mail's story, Phillip Nieto, also did not return a request for more information about his reporting process.
Miller and Moreno
Some claims also refer to Miller as a "MAGA congressman."
Here's what we know about Moreno's allegations.
Boiling water claim originates from Daily Mail report
The Daily Mail's report is available on the tabloid's website behind a paywall. A black-and-white version is included in
The article includes detailed allegations about various instances of Miller's supposed abusive behavior toward Moreno
Here's an excerpt of the Daily Mail's report, focusing on the boiling water allegation (emphasis ours):
The claims trace back to June 9, 2024, when tensions between the couple first erupted.
During an argument inside their Ohio home about their marriage and custody of their daughter, the Congressman allegedly hurled a pot of boiling water at Emily.
Multiple sources with direct knowledge of the incident say some of the water struck Emily's chest, with their daughter looking on.
Emily documented her injuries the same day in a photo that appears to show redness across her upper chest.
A handwritten letter allegedly written by Miller to Moreno the same day as the boiling water incident shows the Congressman apologizing to his then-wife for failing to protect her, though he does not admit to any physical abuse.
The Daily Mail also published what it said was the photo of Moreno's chest. That picture (below) then circulated online.
(X user @MikeJon10117875)
Moreno's attorney reportedly told the Daily Mail:
The photographic evidence speaks for itself. These images, combined with the documented history in court filings, directly contradict years of Mr Miller's denial [ ... ] Any claim that Ms Moreno fabricated these allegations collapses in the face of contemporaneous physical evidence.
Miller's public denial
In a May 7 X post (archived), Miller called the Daily Mail's report "nothing but lies."
In a long thread below that post, Miller shared screenshots of his legal team's apparent response to the newspaper's inquiries, as well as transcripts and audio recordings that Miller supposedly captured at the time, without Moreno's knowledge, "out of concern that she would make false allegations against him down the road."
In a recording Miller said was from 2024, "after the alleged 'Boiling Water' incident," Moreno appeared to say (at 0:35), "I don't think you would ever hurt me, physically, but you have hurt me."
The recording also seemed to include Moreno saying, "What Stephanie did to you was wrong," an apparent reference to Stephanie Grisham, a former White House press secretary during Trump's first term and Miller's
Grisham also
The recordings Miller shared feature no obvious signs of manipulation.
Miller files defamation lawsuit against Moreno
Miller's May 13 defamation lawsuit against Moreno accuses her and the law firm representing her, Zashin Law, of engaging in a coordinated campaign to "malign his character, undermine his odds at re-election to Congress, and falsely portray him as a violent and abusive father and husband" (
PDF
Moreno's spokesperson reportedly told Cleveland.com, a reputable local news media site, that Miller was upset he could not silence Moreno and that the defamation lawsuit showed him "running the same playbook" that he used on Grisham.
Inside the custody filings
Cuyahoga County provided Snopes with about 1,500
Moreno did, in multiple filings, accuse Miller of physical and verbal threats and harassment. For example, in a March 2026
Another April 2026
Miller denied all of Moreno's accusations related to his allegedly violent behavior in the filings and repeatedly referenced her supposed "
'Hot water' incident mentioned in police report
While there is no record of the alleged incident in court filings relating to the custody case, documents from a 2026 police investigation of suspected child abuse involving Miller's young daughter refer to a "hot water" incident in 2024.
Snopes obtained 48 pages of investigative documents from the Bay Village Police Department in Ohio. Per those documents, law enforcement determined allegations made in relation to any sort of abuse were "unsubstantiated" (Page 45).
(Law enforcement redacted all names of the people involved in the report sent to Snopes. However, police sent it in response to an emailed request for documents related to "a child abuse report against Rep. Max Miller.")
Based on the underlying context, the report appears to state that Moreno alleged that she took a picture of bruising on her body after Miller "threw her against the wall" (Page 2).
The report also references "alleged Domestic Violence incidents" on Page 3, including one in 2024 in which a redacted name, presumably Miller, "threw hot water" on someone, presumably Moreno, who sustained injuries.
Miller and his legal team floated various reasons why Moreno might make false allegations on Page 19 of the report, with Miller claiming Moreno was not "well" and his attorney suggesting she was not receiving "desired attention."
The bottom line
The boiling water allegation is one of many abuse accusations Moreno has made against Miller amid a lengthy and public divorce and custody battle. Miller has a history of weathering abuse allegations — and this is not the first time he has filed a defamation lawsuit as a result.
As of this writing, none of Moreno's allegations have been proven in court and there is no definitive evidence her claims are true. That does not mean Miller is absolved of Moreno's accusations, but it does mean we cannot rate this claim.
Facts Only
U.S. Rep. Max Miller, an Ohio Republican, is accused by his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, of throwing boiling water at her during a 2024 incident.
The allegations were first reported by the Daily Mail in May 2026, citing anonymous sources, court filings, and photos of Moreno’s injuries.
Miller denied the claims, filing a defamation lawsuit against Moreno on May 13, 2026.
Miller accused Sen. Bernie Moreno, Emily’s father, of funding a "malicious campaign" against him.
A February 2026 police report referenced a "hot water" incident but found abuse allegations "unsubstantiated."
Moreno’s attorney stated that photographic evidence contradicts Miller’s denials.
Miller shared audio recordings he claimed were made in 2024, in which Moreno appears to say she does not believe he would physically harm her.
Custody filings include accusations from Moreno of physical and verbal abuse by Miller.
The Bay Village Police Department’s investigative documents redacted names but referenced domestic violence allegations.
No court has ruled on the truth of Moreno’s allegations as of the article’s publication.
Executive Summary
U.S. Rep. Max Miller, an Ohio Republican, is facing allegations from his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, that he threw boiling water at her during a 2024 domestic dispute. The claims emerged in a May 2026 Daily Mail report, which included photos of Moreno’s alleged injuries and references to court filings. Miller has vehemently denied the accusations, filing a defamation lawsuit against Moreno and accusing her father, Ohio Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno, of orchestrating a smear campaign. A police report from 2026 mentioned a "hot water" incident but concluded that abuse allegations were "unsubstantiated." The case remains unresolved, with both sides presenting conflicting evidence, including audio recordings and legal filings. The dispute is part of a broader custody battle, and no court has ruled on the veracity of Moreno’s claims.
The situation highlights the challenges of adjudicating domestic abuse allegations in high-profile divorces, where legal strategies, media narratives, and personal animosities intersect. While Moreno’s allegations are serious, they remain unproven, and Miller’s counterclaims—including suggestions about Moreno’s mental health—add layers of complexity. The involvement of a British tabloid, anonymous sources, and political figures further complicates the public’s ability to assess the facts independently.
Full Take
This case exemplifies the weaponization of domestic abuse allegations in high-stakes divorces, where legal, media, and political dimensions collide. The Daily Mail’s reliance on anonymous sources and tabloid framing introduces emotional exploitation (ARC-0012), while Miller’s defamation lawsuit and public denials—coupled with his invocation of Moreno’s mental health—risk shifting focus from the allegations to her credibility, a classic ad hominem evasion (ARC-0028). The police report’s "unsubstantiated" conclusion, despite referencing the incident, leaves room for competing interpretations, a pattern of ambiguity (ARC-0024) that fuels partisan narratives.
The root cause here is the intersection of personal conflict with political power. Miller’s status as a MAGA-aligned congressman and Moreno’s ties to a rival Republican senator (Bernie Moreno) suggest a subtext of intra-party rivalry. The broader implication is the erosion of trust in institutions—courts, media, and law enforcement—to adjudicate such disputes fairly. Who benefits? Miller’s political opponents gain ammunition; Moreno’s camp leverages moral outrage. Who bears the cost? The public’s ability to discern truth in a polarized information environment.
Bridge questions: What would it take for either side to produce definitive evidence? How does the media’s role in amplifying unproven claims shape public perception of domestic violence? If the police report is inconclusive, what standards should apply to public figures facing such allegations?
Counterstrike scan: A coordinated campaign would likely amplify the Daily Mail’s report through partisan outlets, frame Miller as a symbol of GOP hypocrisy, and use Moreno’s allegations to mobilize outrage. However, the actual content—including Miller’s aggressive legal response and the police report’s ambiguity—does not neatly align with a single narrative. The lack of a clear "smoking gun" suggests this is a messy, personal dispute rather than a manufactured scandal.
Patterns detected: ARC-0012 Emotional Exploitation, ARC-0024 Ambiguity, ARC-0028 Ad Hominem Evasion
Sentinel — Human
This text is structured like traditional investigative journalism, synthesizing conflicting allegations and legal facts, which strongly suggests human authorship.