Doug Emhoff has addressed an extramarital affair that took place during his first marriage to Kerstin Emhoff.
In a statement provided on Saturday, August 3, Doug, who is married to Vice President Kamala Harris, said, “During my first marriage, Kerstin and I experienced some difficult times due to my actions.”
“I took responsibility, and over the years, we worked through our issues as a family and emerged stronger,” Doug, 59, added.
The affair contributed to Doug and Kerstin’s divorce, which occurred before he began his relationship with Harris, who is also 59.
Kerstin, 57, said, “Doug and I decided to end our marriage for a variety of reasons many years ago.”
“He is a wonderful father to our children and remains a great friend to me. I am very proud of the supportive and loving blended family that Doug, Kamala, and I have created together,” she added.
Doug and Kerstin were married from 1992 until 2010 and have two adult children: a son, Cole, 29, and a daughter, Ella, 25.
In November 2021, Kerstin expressed her support for Doug’s role as Second Gentleman on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “He’s doing great! We are all so proud.”
She also mentioned that same year that Doug had changed since their marriage. “Of course he’s a better husband now, and that’s wonderful,” Kerstin explained. “That’s how it should be.”
Doug Emhoff and Kamala Harris, who recently secured the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination following President Joe Biden’s decision to suspend his reelection campaign, began dating in 2013 and married the following year.