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The U.S. House Ethics Committee opened an investigation Tuesday into domestic abuse allegations against Republican Rep. Max Miller as the embattled Ohio congressman faced pressure from President Donald Trump and escalating criticism from his former father in law, U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio.
Miller, a senior adviser to Trump during his first presidency, faces a Wednesday deadline to decide whether to stay in his race for reelection, with Republicans nervous that the allegations surrounding the second-term congressman could cost them a seat as they try to hang on to their House majority in this year's midterms.
Leaders of the ethics committee said in their statement that the committee was reviewing whether Miller "may have engaged in domestic violence and abuse or illegal drug use." Earlier in the day, Miller said he had requested his own investigation into the allegations made by his ex-wife, Emily Moreno.
Trump spoke with Miller on Monday and advised that his candidacy "doesn't look good," according to a source familiar with the conversation who was granted anonymity to discuss a private conversation. Trump's conversation with Miller was first reported by Axios.
But Miller, in announcing his plans on the social platform X to request an ethics probe, said, "I have nothing to hide" and said he was seeking "to clear my name."
The former Trump aide, whom the president endorsed in May, is facing a flurry of legal filings by his ex-wife, who is the Republican senator's daughter, and an ex-girlfriend.
"I'm not dropping out of this race and I'll win in November," Miller said.
Trump declined to say publicly on Monday whether Miller should exit the race, noting that the accusations against him were "allegations."
"I know Max. He's a good person. I mean, I always thought he was a very good person," Trump said.
And I'm going to let the families figure that out," Trump told reporters when asked about Miller during an Oval Office event.