Doug Emhoff, the husband of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, has admitted to cheating on his first wife and having an affair during his first marriage, a period he says he takes "responsibility" for. He said in a statement reported by Politico: "During my first marriage, Kirsten and I went through some difficult times because of my actions. I took responsibility, and in the years that followed, we worked to resolve things as a family and came out stronger."
Emhoff's response came after The Daily Mail reported that he had an affair with one of his young daughter's teachers at that time, which ultimately led to the end of his first marriage in 2009. According to a source who spoke to Politico, Harris was aware of the relationship prior to their marriage in 2014. It was also known among the officials who helped Joe Biden in 2020 in selecting a vice president.
Emhoff's children from his first wife, Kristine Emhoff, are now adults. His first wife has spoken fondly of Harris as a stepmother in recent years and has recently defended Harris, affirming that their relationship is strong.
Kristine Emhoff also released a statement after The Daily Mail report on Saturday, saying that she and Emhoff ended their marriage "for various reasons many years ago." Kirsten Emhoff stated in her statement: "He is a great father to our children, and he remains a wonderful friend to me, and I am really proud of the warm, supportive blended family that Doug, Kamala, and I have built together."
Meanwhile, Harris, who is currently in Washington, is conducting screenings and interviews with individuals she is considering for a potential vice-presidential run alongside her.
