The former spouse of the United States' Second Gentleman, Doug Emhoff, has come forward to defend him following his admission of an extramarital affair with a nanny during their marriage.
Kerstin Emhoff, his ex-wife, shared her perspective on the matter in a statement released on Saturday. "Doug and I decided to end our marriage for a variety of reasons, many years ago," she stated. "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."
According to Fox News, Emhoff's confession came on the heels of a Daily Mail report last week, which alleged that he had an affair with his daughter's nanny, resulting in a pregnancy. A close friend of the nanny confirmed the affair but did not provide additional details about the pregnancy. Emhoff, in an interview with CNN, acknowledged his past mistakes. "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," he said.
Emhoff was married to his first wife from 1992 to 2008, and they have two adult children together. Vice President Kamala Harris, who married Emhoff in 2014, has played a significant role in co-parenting his children, who affectionately refer to her as "mommala." The New York Post reported that "irreconcilable differences" were cited as the reason for their divorce.
CNN reported that Harris was aware of Emhoff's affair prior to their marriage, and the Biden 2020 campaign was also informed during the vice presidential vetting process. Despite the past indiscretions and subsequent divorce, Kerstin Emhoff has consistently shown support for her ex-husband's current wife. She has even used her Instagram platform to rally support for Harris, posting a Time magazine cover of Harris with a caption encouraging unity among Democrats.
In a recent interview with CNN, Kerstin Emhoff praised Harris's role in their blended family. "For over 10 years, since Cole and Ella were teenagers, Kamala has been a co-parent with Doug and I," she said. "She is loving, nurturing, fiercely protective and always present. I love our blended family and am grateful to have her in it."
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