US Senator Jim Banks joined a handful of Republican senators in calling for embattled Representative Max Miller to step down over allegations he physically abused his former wife and his two-year-old daughter.
Banks told NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday that the allegations — which Miller has denied — are “deeply troubling.” At least four other Republican senators, including Miller’s former father-in-law, Bernie Moreno, have called for him to step down.
Ohio’s other senator, Jon Husted, Montana Senator Tim Sheehy and Kansas Senator Roger Marshall have also said Miller, who represents northeast Ohio, should quit. No Republicans who serve with Miller in the US House have made such calls.
“If the allegations are true and watching this play out publicly, of course he should resign,” Banks, a first-term senator from Indiana, said.
Banks suggested that Miller, a Republican who’s running for a third term, could lose a seat crucial to maintaining a majority in the House in the November midterms.
“He should drop out if he’s endangering that seat,” Banks said.
Miller has said he won’t step aside. Last weekend, he posted a lengthy video denying each allegation. That triggered new public demands that he quit.
The latest allegations surfaced from Miller’s divorce from Emily Moreno and include physical and emotional abuse of their toddler as well as throwing hot water at his wife and other acts of violence. Former White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham, who dated Miller when they worked at the White House, also accused him of pushing and slapping her.
Read More: Max Miller Seeks Ethics Probe Into Himself Over Abuse Claims
By riding out the criticism until past the effective deadline to withdraw from the race, Miller remains on the ballot in November. He faces Democrat Brian Poindexter, an ironworker, in the general election.
A spokesperson for Miller didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday. Abigail Angelos, a campaign spokeswoman, told the New York Times on Saturday he was staying in the race.
