Doug Emhoff, husband of Vice President Kamala Harris and potential first gentleman, is embroiled in a scandal that has rocked the political sphere. His past affair with Najen Naylor, the nanny for his children, has resurfaced, casting a shadow over Harris’s 2024 presidential campaign.
According to Resist Times, Harris felt “humiliated” by the news. The affair, which took place over a decade ago, led to the end of Emhoff’s first marriage to Kerstin, now CEO of the creative think tank Prettybird. The affair resulted in Naylor becoming pregnant, a revelation that eventually dissolved Emhoff’s marriage.
Sources describe the atmosphere at the vice president’s official residence as tense, with concerns about whether Emhoff might repeat his past actions. One insider remarked, “Once a cheater, always a cheater,” reflecting the anxiety that Harris might have about the situation.
Emhoff, 59, admitted to the affair and stated that he had informed Harris years ago, as well as disclosed the details to Joe Biden’s team during the vetting process for the vice-presidential nomination in 2020. He expressed remorse, saying, “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.”
Despite his admission, the scandal has left Harris feeling “unnerved and humiliated,” especially as she works to rebrand her image ahead of the upcoming Democratic convention and the 2024 election. The timing of the scandal has caused concern within her campaign.
Kerstin Emhoff released a statement defending her ex-husband, emphasizing their strong blended family. However, her statement did little to diminish the impact of the affair on their divorce.
In an attempt to shift focus from the scandal, Harris announced Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate, hoping his stable 30-year marriage would bring steadiness to her campaign.
Najen Naylor, now 47, has since relocated to the East Coast and currently resides in the Hamptons, New York. When approached by the Daily Mail, she did not deny the affair but expressed being “kind of freaked out.” Naylor did not keep the child, with reports indicating the pregnancy ended in a miscarriage.
Emhoff and Kerstin’s 16-year marriage ended in 2009 when she discovered the affair. At the time, their daughter Ella was 10, and their son Cole was 15. Following the affair, Naylor left her job at The Willows, a private school in Culver City, California, where she had worked as a teacher’s aide and teacher.