Kamala Harris's husband now accused of slapping ex-girlfriend for flirting
What's the story
Doug Emhoff, the husband of United States Vice President Kamala Harris, has been accused of physically assaulting his former girlfriend at a high-profile gala in 2012.
The alleged incident occurred when the woman was reportedly flirting with a valet worker.
According to the Daily Mail, three unnamed friends of the woman claim that Emhoff struck her so hard in the face that she spun around while in a valet line after an event at the Cannes Film Festival.
Incident specifics
Alleged assault details emerge from unnamed sources
The woman, a successful New York attorney referred to as "Jane," has yet to comment on the allegations.
The three friends who spoke to the Daily Mail provided photos of Emhoff with "Jane" and other documents corroborating their trip to France around the time of the alleged incident.
The incident is said to have occurred just a year before he met Harris on a blind date. The pair began dating in 2013 and married in August 2014.
Public persona
Emhoff's image as women's ally questioned
One of her friends, a male businessman, claimed that "Jane" called him sobbing in her cab immediately after the incident.
He alleged that Emhoff had forced his way into the cab and was with her when she made the call.
The friend further stated that "Jane" told him about the incident because she wanted "Doug to see her on the phone, telling somebody," hoping it would provide some protection.
Additional confirmation
Second friend confirms details of alleged assault
A second friend, another New York-based female attorney, described how "Jane" was "completely caught off guard" by Emhoff's sudden attack and how she tried to leave following the assault but Emhoff forced his way into the cab with her.
"He hauled up and slapped her so hard.... She said she was in utter shock," she told the Daily Mail.
"She was so furious, she slapped him on one side, and then on the other cheek with the other hand."
Cheating allegations
Emhoff admitted to cheating on his first wife
The bombshell allegations came just two months after Emhoff admitted to cheating on his first wife following a report claiming he allegedly got their nanny pregnant.
"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 in August.
The romance was disclosed to President Joe Biden's vetting committee four years ago, before Harris was chosen as his running mate in 2020.