Doug Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, has been accused of inappropriate and misogynistic behavior during his tenure at the law firm Venable, according to former colleagues who spoke to the Daily Mail. Attorneys from the firm claim that Emhoff, who managed the LA office from 2006 to 2017, used expletives, hosted exclusive men-only events, and showed favoritism toward young, attractive associates.
A 2019 lawsuit further alleged sex discrimination by other partners in the LA office under Emhoff’s management. The lawsuit specifically claimed that while engaged to Harris, Emhoff hired an “unqualified” part-time model as a legal secretary “because she was young, attractive, and friendly with powerful men in the office.”
As Emhoff, an entertainment lawyer, campaigns for his wife, an anonymous staffer disclosed that the Second Gentleman once bragged about shouting at a female partner, telling her to “get the f–k out of [his] office.” He allegedly recounted this incident to male colleagues, stating he had “put her in her place.” A former female employee seemingly confirmed these allegations, describing Emhoff as “very flirty” and claiming he retaliated against women who didn’t respond positively to his advances.
She stated, “If they didn’t flirt back or didn’t respond positively, then [they] were on his s**t list.” Another staffer reported that Emhoff regularly hosted men-only cocktail hours at the office. “He had, for many years, cocktail parties where only men were invited. In the office, on Friday evening. When my colleague brought that to the attention of Venable [around 2010], that stopped,” she added.
The same source accused Emhoff of using his position to pressure colleagues into sharing client fees with him in exchange for staffing their cases. “If you bring in a client, you get compensated… He was in charge of the litigation department, so he staffed your cases. So, if you wanted to staff your case, you had to give him part of your origination [bonus], or you didn’t get staffed. It happens in law firms all the time,” she explained.
Since Harris was nominated as the Democratic candidate for 2024, Emhoff, 59, has faced several allegations of misconduct. In August, he admitted to having an affair with the family nanny, Najen Naylor, while married to his first wife, Kerstin. According to the New York Post, Naylor became pregnant as a result of the affair but did not keep the baby, as confirmed by a close friend with knowledge of the situation.
Most recently, Emhoff was accused of slapping an ex-girlfriend at a 2012 gala after she allegedly flirted with a valet worker, a claim he denied through a spokesperson. Despite these allegations, Emhoff continues to present himself as a supportive husband. In a recent interview, MSNBC anchor Jen Psaki controversially praised him for “reshaping the perception of masculinity,” highlighting his public image as a devoted “wife guy.”