New Delhi: Just at a time when the stars of Kamala Harris seemed to be aligning favourably, a revelation about his husband could have some effect on her bid to become America’s first female President.
Vice-President Harris’ husband Doug Emhoff admitted recently that he had cheated on his first wife, following a report published in a British tabloid claiming he once got the family nanny pregnant.
Emhoff had an extramarital affair with Najen Naylor, a blonde nanny who taught at the private school attended by his two children, The Daily Mail reported.
It happened more than 16 years ago, while Emhoff was still married to Kerstin Mackin. The two divorced in 2008, and Emhoff married Harris in 2014.
According to a close family friend, Naylor became pregnant but didn’t keep the baby.
In a statement to CNN, Emhoff acknowledged the affair without mentioning Naylor’s name or addressing the pregnancy.
“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,” Emhoff told CNN.
There is no bitterness between Emhoff and Kerstin, who had an amicable divorce and are parents to two daughters.
“Doug and I decided to end our marriage for a variety of reasons, many years ago. He is a great father to our kids, continues to be a great friend to me, and I am really proud of the warm and supportive blended family Doug, Kamala, and I have built together,” Kerstin said in a statement on Saturday.
According to CNN, Emhoff’s affair was disclosed to President Joe Biden’s vetting panel four years ago before he selected Harris as his running mate for the 2020 Presidential election.
And now that President Biden has pulled out of a re-election bid, the Democrats have endorsed Harris as the candidate.
