Overview
- Sen. Bernie Moreno publicly accused Rep. Max Miller in early August of withholding his granddaughter’s stuffed blue bunny for roughly 48 hours and said the child was distressed without it.
- Miller posted screenshots on X denying he held the toy hostage and said his messages show he did not purposely prevent the child from getting the bunny.
- Mother Jones published additional screenshots and emails that include a March 2025 plea from Miller’s ex-wife and texts suggesting the bunny dispute predates the August episode.
- A parenting coordinator and lawyers are involved in the exchanges about returning the toy, with Emily Moreno’s attorney sending an Aug. 3 demand for the immediate return of the bunny.
- Miller has refused calls to withdraw from his reelection campaign, and the dispute has added reputational pressure because August 10 is the reported deadline for Republicans to replace his name on the ballot.