A former Trump White House press secretary who earlier had a turbulent tenure in Arizona politics filed for a temporary restraining order against an Ohio congressman accused of domestic violence.
Stephanie Grisham’s request comes as Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio, is facing allegations of domestic violence toward his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, and their young daughter.
Years before Miller was accused of abusing Emily Moreno, Grisham said he was violent toward her, too.
Grisham dated Miller when she served in President Donald Trump’s first administration and said in a Washington Post op-ed that “he got physical with me.”
“The end of our relationship had become violent, reaching its worst point on the day I left,” Grisham wrote. She did not name Miller, but
later acknowledged she had been referring to him.
Miller sued Grisham over her words and the pair settled their case three years ago. But after Grisham's name came up in Miller's latest domestic violence dispute, she filed a new lawsuit against him last month.
Why is Max Miller in the news?
Miller is running for reelection in Ohio and facing scrutiny for his alleged abuse of Emily Moreno, the daughter of Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, and their young daughter.
Miller denies the accusations against him, which include allegedly holding a gun to Emily Moreno’s head and fracturing their daughter’s collarbone.
He is facing calls to end his campaign, but said in a CNN interview that he would remain in the race.
“My daughter lives in constant fear of this man,” Bernie Moreno recently told reporters.
Miller said he would request an investigation by the U.S. House Ethics Committee to clear his name.
"In light of all the renewed interest in my family affairs I am going to file my own paperwork for an ethics investigation into myself to clear my name from these horrific attacks on myself and family. I have absolutely nothing to hide," Miller said on X.
What did Stephanie Grisham say about Max Miller?
Five years ago, Grisham wrote in her book and a Washington Post op-ed that she was in an abusive relationship while she served in the first Trump administration.
She did not name who the person was, but later clarified she had been referring to Miller. Grisham wrote that Trump and First Lady Melania Trump did not seem to care about the abuse she suffered.
Miller sued Grisham for defamation and they settled in 2023.
Why is Stephanie Grisham seeking restraining order against Max Miller?
Grisham is seeking a temporary restraining order as part of a civil lawsuit against Miller in the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court in Ohio.
Grisham’s lawyer accused Miller of violating their 2023 settlement. The two parties had agreed not to discuss each other as part of the deal.
However, Miller posted about Grisham on X in May, alleging “everything alleged by Stephanie Grisham was fabricated.”
Grisham is requesting the court force Miller to remove his X post about her and block him from violating their settlement in the future, according to the court records.
A lawyer for Miller did not respond to requests for comment.
“Miller has continually violated the parties' Settlement Agreement through ongoing publication of disparaging statements and the disclosure of at least one confidential matter that the parties expressly agreed would remain private,” Grisham’s lawyer, Mark Zaid, wrote in a legal filing. He declined comment.
What are Stephanie Grisham’s Arizona ties?
Grisham got her start in Arizona politics. She worked for Arizona Republicans, including then-Attorney General Tom Horne and the Republican caucus for the Arizona House of Representatives.
Grisham joined Trump's nascent presidential campaign in 2015 and later served as White House press secretary under Trump and as First Lady Melania Trump’s chief of staff. Her 2019-2020 stint as White House press secretary famously included zero official press briefings.
She resigned from the White House in the wake of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Grisham also faced legal troubles in Arizona while working for Horne and shortly after she joined the Trump campaign. She pleaded guilty to drunken-driving charges in 2014 and 2016.
More recently, Grisham supported former Vice President Kamala Harris’ bid for president against Trump in 2024.
Grisham was born in Colorado and attended college there. She no longer lives in Arizona. She moved to Kansas in 2021.
What’s next in the case?
A hearing in Grisham's case against Miller is set for Aug. 31, according to court records.
Stephanie Murray covers national politics and the Trump administration for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. She co-hosts “The Gaggle,” The Republic’s weekly politics podcast. Reach her at stephanie.murray@usatodayco.com, on X and TikTok @stephanie_murr and on Instagram @stephaniemurray.news.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Ex-Trump aide Stephanie Grisham in legal battle with embattled US rep
