Anonymously-Sourced Report Says Doug Emhoff ‘Forcefully’ Slapped Then-Girlfriend in 2012

An October 2 report from The Daily Mail (Right bias) accused Vice President Kamala Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff, of “forcefully” slapping his then-girlfriend in 2012. A spokesperson for Emhoff denied the allegations on October 3.

The Details: On October 2, the Mail reported speaking anonymously to three friends of the woman, who it says “is a successful New York attorney.” Emhoff reportedly “struck the woman in the face so hard she spun around” late at night after an event at the Cannes Film Festival in France. The Mail said the alleged victim declined to comment, and Emhoff did not respond to its request for comment. On October 3, a spokesperson for Emhoff told Semafor (Lean Left bias), “any suggestion that he would or has ever hit a woman is false.”

For Context: Last week, Emhoff was interviewed by MSNBC’s (Left bias) Jen Psaki, who said Emhoff has “reshaped the perception of masculinity” by being an “incredibly supportive spouse” to Harris. In early August, the Mail reported that Emhoff cheated on his first wife in 2008 with their babysitter and impregnated her. The Mail wrote that Emhoff “admitted” to the affair following the report. 

How the Media Covered It: On October 2 and 3, the story was widely covered by the right, and some Center-rated outlets, most prominently Newsweek and NewsNation. AllSides did not initially find coverage from the left, until Semafor reported speaking to a spokesperson for Emhoff on October 3.

Editor's Note: Semafor reported Emhoff's denial of the allegations after AllSides published this Headline Roundup on October 3. Semafor's report was then picked up by several outlets on the left. This story has been updated to reflect this.