Are past actions now catching up with Doug Emhoff, the husband of Democratic candidate Kamala Harris?
Shocking allegations have emerged against Emhoff, the “Second Gentleman” and husband of Vice President Harris. This appears to be the first major scandal to surface during the final month of the U.S. election campaign between Harris and Republican challenger Donald Trump.
The attention is particularly significant as so-called “October surprises” have influenced election outcomes in the past.
What are the allegations? Emhoff, formerly a prominent attorney, is accused of having violently punched his then-girlfriend in the face on May 24, 2012, after a charity gala at the Cannes Film Festival. The incident reportedly took place in front of the Hotel du Cap, following an event attended by celebrities such as Antonio Banderas, Alec Baldwin, Karl Lagerfeld, Kirsten Dunst, and Paris Hilton. According to the report, he allegedly struck her so hard that she “spun on her own axis.” The reported cause: while waiting for a cab, she offered an event employee €100 to expedite their departure and briefly placed her hand on the man’s shoulder, which Emhoff interpreted as flirting. Both were said to be intoxicated.
An acquaintance of the couple told the Daily Mail that the victim called from a cab crying, recounting the incident in detail. The woman, referred to under the pseudonym “Jane,” is described as a successful New York lawyer. Two other friends corroborated her private accounts to reporters, and there are photographs showing the couple together. However, “Jane” did not provide a statement for the report.
Emhoff was presented by the Democrats as ‘modern man’ protecting women
Amid these revelations, Emhoff recently acknowledged an affair with nanny and teacher Najen Naylor in 2008, during which Naylor became pregnant but suffered a miscarriage. Naylor accused him of causing the miscarriage, and Emhoff reportedly settled the matter for $80,000 in damages.
In recent years, Emhoff has presented himself as an ally of women in the fight against “toxic masculinity.” Former White House press secretary Jen Psaki (45), now an MSNBC journalist, praised him in a recent interview as someone working to reshape “the perception of masculinity.” Emhoff stated that he had always supported women: “I was just always like that!”
This episode not only tarnishes Emhoff’s image but also casts a shadow over Harris, who has consistently maintained that she would “believe women who were victims of sexual assault without ifs and buts.”
In early reactions to these revelations, social media echoed her past statements: “Believe the victims!”
Accusations also stem from his time as an entertainment lawyer
Also, according to allegations in a 2019 lawsuit against his former law firm, Emhoff retaliated against women who did not respond favorably to his flirting and hired an assistant deemed unqualified for her role based on her appearance. The media has intensified scrutiny of Emhoff’s past following a report from The Daily Mail, which claims he would target “young, pretty girls” during his tenure at Venable’s law firm in Los Angeles. Emhoff managed the office from 2006 to 2017, and former colleagues have described his behavior as “inappropriate” and “misogynistic.”
One anonymous staff member recounted an incident in which Emhoff shouted, “Get the f–k out of my office” at a female partner, later boasting to his male colleagues that he had “put her in her place.” Another former employee of the firm noted that Emhoff was widely known for being “very flirty” with female colleagues, with many staff members aware of his alleged behavior.
The Daily Mail report also claims that women who did not reciprocate Emhoff’s advances were placed on his “s–t list” and faced retaliation as a result.
