Trump-endorsed congressional candidate Max Miller denies assaulting former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham following bombshell report about his troubled past

Advertisement
Trump-endorsed congressional candidate Max Miller denies assaulting former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham following bombshell report about his troubled past
Max Miller arrives at the Lorain County Fairgrounds on June 26, 2021 in Wellington, Ohio. Scott Olson/Getty Images
  • A Trump-endorsed House candidate denies claims that he assaulted Stephanie Grisham.
  • Miller slapped and pushed Grisham during a fight while they were in a relationship, sources told Politico Magazine.
  • "Mr. Miller has never, ever assaulted Ms. Grisham in any way whatsoever," Miller's lawyer told the outlet.
Advertisement

Max Miller, an Ohio congressional candidate who has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump, is denying allegations that he assaulted former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham, according to a Politico Magazine profile that was published on Wednesday.

Politico Magazine's Michael Kruse detailed allegations of abuse in a lengthy article shedding light on how the turbulent past of Miller, who worked both as an advance staffer for Trump's 2016 campaign and as associated director of the Office of Personnel in the White House.

Miller is now mounting a primary challenge to GOP Rep. Anthony Gonzalez in Ohio's 16th congressional district. Gonzalez is a target of Trumpworld for voting to impeach the former president for inciting the January 6 insurrection.

In addition to closely examining Miller's troubled past in Ohio, Politico Magazine reported on his volatile 1 1/2-year relationship with Grisham, who worked first as former first lady Melania Trump's chief of staff and top spokeswoman before serving as White House press secretary.

Citing three sources familiar with the matter, Politico Magazine reported on the pair's fights, including when Grisham accused Miller of infidelity. Miller once threw a dog toy at Grisham and would try to grab her when she tried to leave in the elevator of his apartment building, the article said.

Advertisement

"Mr. Miller has never, ever assaulted Ms. Grisham in any way whatsoever," Miller's lawyer Larry Zuckerman told Politico Magazine about the claims.

Grisham herself declined to comment.

Three sources told Politico that in April 2020 Miller slapped and pushed Grisham. She fled from the scene of their fight, running away from Miller into chilly evening temperatures with just her purse and no jacket, per the sources who spoke with Politico.

One person, who Politico described as a non-White House source close to Grisham, confirmed that the episode "happened," describing it as "violent" and "very hard for her."

Another person familiar with the episode, who was one of Grisham's colleagues at the White House, told Politico the two of them "talked and cried" about it, saying, "This was not a moment of gossip. This was not a moment of slander. This was a moment of pain and fear."

Advertisement

Zuckerman dened the allegations to Politico. "None of these alleged 'three people' could possibly have any first-hand knowledge of this false incident because it never happened," he said.

Miller's attorney shared emails with Politico between Grisham and Miller that show Grisham accusing Miller of cheating on her and Miller denying the charges, but no mention of an assault, which Zuckerman described as proving Miller's innocence "by way of omission."

Miller's campaign didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

{{}}