Doug Emhoff Admits to Past Affair During First Marriage
Doug Emhoff, the second gentleman, acknowledged on Saturday that he had an extramarital affair during his first marriage after a British tabloid report brought it to light. The affair, with a teacher from his children’s school, occurred several years before he met and married Vice President Kamala Harris.
The Daily Mail reported that the teacher became pregnant in 2009 but did not have the baby. CBS News, however, is not naming the woman involved. Two sources close to the woman at the time told CBS News that the pregnancy ended in a miscarriage.
These sources, along with a third source familiar with the relationship, clarified that while Emhoff was legally married to his first wife, Kerstin Emhoff, they were separated when the affair happened. They also corrected the Daily Mail’s claim, stating the woman was not a nanny but a teacher at the school, though she wasn’t teaching Emhoff’s children at that time.
Emhoff issued a statement to CBS News, saying, “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.”
Kerstin Emhoff, in her statement, mentioned that their marriage ended for various reasons many years ago. She praised Doug for being a great father and friend and expressed pride in the blended family she, Doug, and Kamala have built together.
Court records show that Kerstin Emhoff filed for divorce in 2009, which was finalized in late 2010. A spokesperson for the Harris campaign declined to comment on the matter.
A source familiar with the situation told CBS News that Harris knew about the affair before their marriage and that it was known to those in the Biden campaign during the VP vetting process in 2020.
Emhoff and Harris met in 2013 and married in 2014. They do not have children together, but Emhoff’s adult children, Ella and Cole, call Harris “Mamala.” Their close relationship has been well-documented, with Harris even officiating Cole’s wedding last year.