Full Breakdown
Rep. Max Miller and Stephanie Grisham Receive Preliminary Injunctions Over Settlement Dispute
9/1/2026, 4:22:19 AM
Core Event: Court Orders Halt Disparaging Posts
Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Emily Hagan issued preliminary injunctions against U.S. Rep. Max Miller and former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham after a day-long hearing on their 2023 settlement. Both parties were ordered to remove any X posts that could be construed as disparaging the other and to refrain from further public statements that violate the agreement.
Background & Context
Miller and Grisham, who dated while serving in the Trump administration, settled a 2021 defamation lawsuit in 2023. The confidential settlement barred each from making disparaging remarks about the other. In 2021, Grisham’s memoir referenced an abusive former boyfriend, which court records later identified as Miller. Miller sued again in 2023, leading to the settlement that included a $1 million penalty per breach.
In the spring of 2024, new abuse allegations surfaced from Miller’s ex-wife, Emily Moreno, daughter of Sen. Bernie Moreno. Those allegations reignited public scrutiny of Miller’s conduct and prompted renewed social-media activity from both Miller and Grisham.
Data & Statistics
- Settlement penalty: $1 million per alleged violation.
- Litigation costs reported by Miller: $300,000 already spent.
- Miller’s X post on May 7 referenced a purported 2024 recording in which Moreno allegedly admitted Grisham’s claims were fabricated.
- Grisham’s X post on April 22 expressed frustration with “men with money & power,” which Miller’s lawyer linked to the Miller-Moreno dispute.
Official Statements & Responses
- He also argued that his busy congressional schedule limits his direct involvement with online platforms.
- Grisham testified that the April 22 post was not about Miller but related to broader news about Jeffrey Epstein, and that the subsequent media attention has caused “worsening anxiety” and forced her to decline television appearances.
- Judge Hagan’s injunction requires both parties to delete the contested posts and to refrain from further disparagement, citing the settlement’s explicit terms.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- April 22 post: Miller’s attorney Adam Brown asserted the post was aimed at Miller, while Grisham maintained it referenced unrelated events. The sources present both positions without independent verification.
- May 7 post: Miller claims staff acted independently; Grisham’s lawyers argue the post directly targeted her, violating the settlement. No third-party evidence clarifies who authored the content.
- The precise content of the alleged 2024 recording cited by Miller has not been released, leaving its relevance to the settlement ambiguous.
Verbatim Quotes
- “When a sitting member of Congress calls you a liar, that is a pretty big deal in political circles,” — Stephanie Grisham, house press secretary
- “I didn’t instruct them to do this, period. They just did it,” — Rep. Max Miller
- “You agreed not to disparage her?” — Jeff Crossman, one of Grisham’s attorneys, asked Miller
- “I did, and she did the same for me,” — Rep. Max Miller
- “They had zero tolerance for this,” — Rep. Max Miller
- “It affects you as a human – emotionally, mentally,” — Rep. Max Miller
What’s Next
No future hearings or deadlines were disclosed in the source material. The injunction remains in effect, and both parties must comply with the court’s order while their broader legal battles continue.
