Doug Emhoff Does Not Deny He Hit Ex-Girlfriend In New Interview
Doug Emhoff, husband of Democratic presidential nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris, has not outright denied claims that he allegedly struck an ex-girlfriend. During an MSNBC interview, he dismissed the question as a "distraction" without directly addressing the allegations.
In the interview, MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” host Joe Scarborough referenced the allegations being spread by former President Donald Trump and also mentioned crude remarks made about Harris’ past. Scarborough asked Emhoff, “How do you all stay centered, how do you stay disciplined and not really push back hard at these things?”
Emhoff responded by downplaying the accusations, saying, “We don’t have time to be p***ed off. We don’t have time to focus on it. It’s all a distraction. It’s designed to try to get us off our game.”
When pressed by Scarborough on whether these allegations affected him, Emhoff reiterated that it did not, saying, “No. All we are doing – all we talk about – is this election.”
Emhoff continued by discussing the high stakes of the upcoming election, focusing on the future of the country and the importance of choosing who will nominate the next Supreme Court justices. “The guy who picked the three who overturned Roe v. Wade and want to take away more freedom?” he asked, referencing Trump.
A spokesperson for Emhoff had previously called the allegations of striking a woman “untrue.” However, this is not the only personal controversy he has faced. In August, reports emerged alleging that Emhoff had an affair with his child’s nanny during his first marriage.
In a statement to CNN, Emhoff admitted to an affair during his first marriage, stating, “During my first marriage, Kerstin and I went through some tough times on account of my actions. I took responsibility, and in the years since, we worked through things as a family and have come out stronger on the other side.”
The Daily Mail reported that the woman involved in the affair did not deny the story when approached by reporters. Her only comment was, “I’m kind of freaked out right now.”
According to The Daily Mail, a close friend with direct knowledge of the affair confirmed the details but stated that the woman did not keep the child. The tabloid also noted that social media posts from the woman show a baby girl named Brook in 2009, the same year the child would have been born.
The news, as reported, has created concern within Harris’ campaign as she gains momentum in the polls heading into the final stretch before the election.
Emhoff’s first wife, Kerstin Emhoff, has been supportive of her ex-husband and Kamala Harris. Speaking to CNN, she said, “Doug and I decided to end our marriage for a variety of reasons, many years ago. He is a great father to our kids, continues to be a great friend to me, and I am really proud of the warm and supportive blended family Doug, Kamala, and I have built together.”
Kerstin Emhoff has also defended Harris in response to criticisms, particularly from Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance, who criticized Harris for not having her own children. Kerstin praised Harris as “loving, nurturing, fiercely protective, and always present” and dismissed these attacks as baseless.