Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff acknowledged Saturday that his first marriage was difficult and admitted to having an extramarital affair.
“During my first marriage, Kerstin and I went through difficult times because of my actions,” said Emhoff, by a declaration first obtained by CNN. “I took responsibility and since then we’ve worked things out as a family and come out stronger on the other side.”
Your comments followed communicating from The Daily Mail about the case.
A source close to the matter told the Associated Press that people who evaluated Vice President Harris before she was selected as President Biden’s running mate four years ago were aware of the case. Harris also knew this before her marriage to Emhoff just over a decade ago, the source said.
His ex-wife, Kerstin, shared in a statement on Saturday that they ended their marriage “for several reasons.”
Still, she added, “He’s a great father to our children, continues to be a great friend to me, and I’m so proud of the warm, supportive family that Doug, Kamala and I have built together.”
Emhoff’s recognition comes as Harris rises to the top of the Democratic ticket after President Biden dropped out of the race and endorsed her last month. She has faced a series of attacks about her family situation and racial identity, especially from former President Trump’s running mate, Senator J.D. Vance (R-Ohio).
Vance, in clips that resurfaced online, criticized those on the Democratic side — including Harris, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY) — for not having children. He, however, said in a separate speech that he did not target those who could not have children for biological or medical reasons.
“How does it make sense for us to hand over our country to people who don’t really have a direct interest in it?” Vance said in 2021, referring to Harris and others as “childless hot women” and adding that “the Democrats’ entire future is controlled by childless people.”
The comments again sparked backlash among Democrats, and the Ohio senator doubled down on the rhetoric as “sarcastic” and again attacked Democrats as “anti-family.” Trump also defended his vice presidential pick.
Harris, however, has two stepchildren, Cole and Ella Emhoff, through the second gentleman.
The Hill has reached out to Harris’ campaign for comment.
The Associated Press contributed reporting.
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