A recent bombshell report has surfaced, accusing Doug Emhoff, the husband of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, of assaulting an ex-girlfriend in 2012. The alleged incident took place after the Cannes Film Festival, where Emhoff reportedly slapped his then-girlfriend over her alleged flirtation with a valet worker.
Incident at Cannes Film Festival
According to a report from Daily Mail, Doug Emhoff, the Second Gentleman, allegedly slapped his ex-girlfriend so hard that she spun around. This incident said to have occurred in May 2012, was corroborated by three friends of the woman, who provided details to the media. One of the friends claimed the woman had called immediately after the event, sobbing and explaining that she had been struck by Emhoff.
“It was hard to hear her because she was sobbing,” one friend recounted. “She told me she was with a guy and he hit her… She was in the car with the guy at the time.”
The identity of the woman has not been publicly revealed, and she is referred to by the alias “Jane” in the report. It is also mentioned that she is now a successful attorney in New York.
Doug Emhoff response and fallout
Following the alleged incident, Doug Emhoff reportedly cut the trip short and returned to Los Angeles for his daughter’s birthday, according to the report. The relationship between him and the woman ended soon after, and there are no indications that Emhoff ever apologized for the incident.
Emhoff went on to start a relationship with Kamala Harris in 2013, a year after the alleged assault, and the couple married in 2014 while Harris served as California’s Attorney General.
Previous admission of infidelity
This accusation follows another controversial revelation about Emhoff’s past. In August 2024, Emhoff admitted to having an extramarital affair during his first marriage. The affair, with a nanny named Najen Naylor, reportedly took place more than 15 years ago, while Emhoff was still married to his first wife, Kerstin.
Doug Emhoff addressed the affair publicly, 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 revelation of his past infidelity was known to President Joe Biden’s vetting committee when Kamala Harris was being considered for the vice-presidential nomination in 2020.
Upcoming developments
As the accusations against Emhoff circulate, they come at a particularly sensitive time as the 2024 U.S. election cycle intensifies. Emhoff, who has largely remained a public figure of support for Vice President Harris, has not yet publicly responded to the new allegations. The potential impact on Harris’ political future remains to be seen.