Rep. Max Miller, accused of abuse, will remain in reelection race as withdrawal deadline passes

By Michael Williams, CNN

(CNN) — Rep. Max Miller will remain in his race for reelection, despite abuse allegations that have rocked his campaign and prompted growing calls from fellow Republicans for him to drop out.

Miller, who has denied the allegations of abuse from his ex-wife, has consistently maintained that he would remain in the race for Ohio’s 7th District. But now that the deadline for party leaders to replace him on the ballot has passed, his position on the ticket is locked in.

Miller would have had to drop out by Saturday evening. The deadline for Republican leaders to replace him on the ballot is August 10, but two days’ notice is required before party leaders would hold a meeting to pick the candidate.

Miller’s spokesperson told CNN on Sunday that he is remaining in the race.

The controversies surrounding Miller, who represents a district in eastern Ohio, threaten to jeopardize his chances of winning what was once thought to be a safe GOP seat, and could imperil Republicans’ chances of maintaining control of the House in this year’s midterms.

CNN previously reported that party officials led an intense push to get him out of the race, believing he could imperil the GOP’s chances in the district, according to a source familiar with the matter. Allies of Donald Trump also pushed the president to encourage Miller to drop his reelection bid, CNN has reported, amid the abuse claims and pressure from Miller’s former father-in-law, Sen. Bernie Moreno.

Moreno has been increasingly vocal about the issue, saying his fellow Ohioan “should not serve” in Congress and calling him “a danger to my daughter.”

The state’s junior Republican senator, Jon Husted, separately called for Miller to abandon his race and to resign from Congress.

In an interview on CNN last week, Miller said he had spoken with Trump about his position in the race.

Trump, Miller said, told him the race would be “tough” and seemed to express doubt about his chances to win.

But Miller remained defiant in the interview that he would remain in the race and clear his name.

Emily Moreno accused Miller of abusing both her and her daughter throughout their marriage, which ended last year. The couple’s divorce and child custody dispute have become increasingly public in recent weeks, especially in the light of a combative livestream from Miller last week in which he sought to defend against his ex-wife’s claims.

After the livestream, Miller posted on social media a link to a file containing hundreds of messages, pictures and videos exchanged between him and Moreno that he said would exonerate him from claims of mistreating his wife and daughter.

But the release of that information generated its own controversy after an attorney for Miller conceded the files inadvertently had contained sensitive details about Miller’s family.

Miller is set to face Democrat Brian Poindexter, an ironworker, on November 3.

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CNN’s Ethan Cohen contributed to this report.