\n<\/p>\n
AP\/Tom Williams<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n During a sworn<\/span> deposition on Monday, Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) declined to answer repeated questions from one of his ex-wife\u2019s lawyers about whether he pushed a girl down a staircase during high school.<\/p>\n The deposition, first reported by Mother Jones, <\/em>was part of his ongoing court battle over custody of the two-year-old daughter he shares with Emily Moreno, daughter of US Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio). Emily Moreno has accused her ex-husband of assaulting her multiple times. He has also been accused of being violent toward two other women and was investigated by Ohio authorities for potential child abuse, though that claim was deemed \u201cunsubstantiated.\u201d<\/p>\n In July, Mother Jones<\/em> published an investigation<\/a> into Miller based on a trove of police and court documents. Among the records were claims that Miller tossed boiling water at Moreno, held a gun to her head while she changed their daughter\u2019s diaper, and shoved her against a wall, resulting in bruises.<\/p>\n In these filings, Moreno\u2019s lawyers also brought up an alleged incident from high school\u2014previously reported by Politico<\/a><\/em> and subsequently by Mother Jones<\/a><\/em>\u2014in which Miller was said to have pushed a woman down the stairs after she rejected his physical advances.<\/p>\n \u201cWith eight to 10 friends at Miller\u2019s house, Miller pushed a girl out the door of his room and she fell down some stairs after he became enraged when she resisted his attempts to touch her, according to three people who were there and many more who heard about the incident in the aftermath,\u201d wrote<\/a> journalist Michael Kruse in 2021.<\/p>\n Reached by text message this summer, the woman in question told\u00a0Mother Jones<\/em>\u00a0that while the event \u201chappened 20 years ago,\u201d it remains \u201cone of the more traumatic nights of my life.\u201d<\/p>\n In interviews and statements, Miller has denied ever behaving violently toward women, including his ex-wife and the woman from high school.<\/p>\n Testifying under penalty of perjury this week, Miller was repeatedly instructed by his lawyers to remain silent on the staircase allegation:<\/p>\n Moreno\u2019s lawyer: Where did you go to high school?<\/p>\n Miller: Shaker Heights.<\/p>\n Moreno\u2019s lawyer: Isn\u2019t it true there was an incident in high school where you pushed someone down the stairs \u2014<\/p>\n Miller\u2019s lawyer: Objection.<\/p>\n Moreno\u2019s lawyer: Yes or no?<\/p>\n Miller\u2019s lawyer: Don\u2019t answer that.<\/p>\n Moreno\u2019s lawyer: You\u2019re instructing him not to answer?<\/p>\n Miller\u2019s lawyer: I am instructing him not to answer that.<\/p>\n Moreno\u2019s lawyer: Can you instruct him to answer the question, please?<\/p>\n Miller: <\/strong>It predates December 18th of \u201925. [The] judge made several rulings.<\/p>\n Miller\u2019s lawyer: <\/strong>Max, I got it.<\/p>\n Moreno\u2019s lawyer: Can you instruct him to answer the question, please?<\/p>\n Court reporter: <\/strong>You are so instructed.<\/p>\n Miller\u2019s lawyer: Take it up with the judge.<\/p>\n Moreno\u2019s laywer: If the incident never occurred, why are you afraid of answering the question?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Moreno\u2019s lawyers kept pushing, but Miller took his counsel\u2019s advice. \u201cMax,\u201d his attorney Pamela MacAdams said. \u201cDo not respond.\u201d<\/p>\n During the deposition, Moreno\u2019s lawyers also asked Miller about alleged testosterone use. <\/p>\n Moreno\u2019s lawyer: Are you currently taking testosterone?<\/p>\n Miller: No.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Miller explained that he previously utilized testosterone replacement therapy after obtaining a prescription online. \u201cIt is legal,\u201d he said, adding that he has not taken testosterone in two years.<\/p>\n Moreno\u2019s lawyer: Do you understand that the side effects for testosterone replacement therapy include irritability, mood swings, or increased aggression; yes or no?<\/p>\n Miller: No.<\/p>\n Moreno\u2019s lawyer: <\/strong>No one ever informed you about the side effects of taking testosterone replacement therapy?<\/p>\n Miller: They did, but they said where my test levels were is that this would get it back to normal so that it wouldn\u2019t be above [the] normal baseline of testosterone. So essentially, what they were saying is this would help my overall functionality and getting a little bit [of] energy back.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Miller told Moreno\u2019s attorney, a Marine veteran, that taking testosterone is \u201cvery normal.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd now, Secretary Hegseth has [advised] it for all of the men 30 and over in the military to take it,\u201d Miller added, somewhat misconstruing Pete Hegseth\u2019s instruction for all men in the military over 30 to have their testosterone levels tested<\/a>. \u201cAs you know, Marine.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n
\n
\n