Doug Emhoff, husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, has been accused of assaulting a former girlfriend during a 2012 incident at the Cannes Film Festival. The allegations, resurfacing just as the 2024 election cycle intensifies, claim Emhoff slapped the woman after suspecting her of flirting with a valet driver. According to reports from multiple sources, three friends of the woman, who is identified only by the pseudonym "Jane," have corroborated the story.
The incident allegedly took place late at night while the couple waited in a valet line. Emhoff reportedly became angry when Jane, attempting to expedite their wait, placed her hand on the valet’s shoulder. Mistaking her action for flirting, Emhoff allegedly slapped her so hard that she spun around.
Doug Emhoff timeline:
2009: Impregnated his chiId's nanny
2012: Physically assauIts his girlfriend
2023: Lectures us on toxic masculinity
2024: Hailed for redefining masculinity pic.twitter.com/Ow18xQpHlI— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) October 2, 2024
One friend, a New York businessman, stated that the woman called him from a taxi after the alleged assault, sobbing uncontrollably. "She was hysterical, and it was hard to hear her clearly," the friend recounted.
In addition to physical violence, the woman claimed Emhoff forced his way into the taxi, despite her attempts to leave him behind. According to the friends, she ended the relationship that same night.
Just a few days ago Jen Psaki said Doug Emhoff is reshaping the perception of masculinity.
Turns out he assaulted his ex, cheated on his wife, got his nanny pregnant, and said the nanny claimed he caused her to miscarry.
Is this the masculinity @jrpsaki was referring to? pic.twitter.com/fZE3jh1Bus
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) October 2, 2024
Emhoff reportedly made no apology for the incident and downplayed it with a flippant remark, comparing it to a tennis match. "He said something about her ‘getting one across the court,’" said another friend.
This incident occurred a year before Emhoff met Kamala Harris, whom he married in 2014. At the time of the alleged assault, Emhoff was recently divorced from his first wife, Kerstin, with whom he shares two children. While Emhoff has not commented on these resurfacing accusations, they add to other past controversies, including revelations of infidelity during his first marriage.
The timing of these allegations comes at a politically sensitive moment, with Kamala Harris running for re-election alongside President Joe Biden. Emhoff, who has largely maintained a low profile, has been a visible figure of support for Harris throughout her tenure as Vice President. However, this new wave of accusations may complicate her campaign and public image, particularly given her previous strong stances on issues of violence against women.
As of now, neither Kamala Harris nor her team has publicly addressed the accusations against her husband. The unnamed ex-girlfriend, a successful New York attorney, has also declined to comment. With the election rapidly approaching, the potential fallout from these claims remains uncertain, but they are sure to raise questions about Emhoff’s past behavior and Harris’s response to personal controversies.