New allegations are being leveled against Dough Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, regarding his conduct at the law firm Venable, where he was a partner prior to becoming the country’s first Second Gentleman. The accusations come on the heels of a report that Emhoff violently slapped a former girlfriend during an event at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival.
Former Venable colleagues are accusing Emhoff of exhibiting misogynistic behavior and favoritism. They allege he used expletives toward female colleagues, organized male-only office gatherings, and showed preference towards younger and more attractive associates.
In 2019, former legal secretary Marjan Rabbi filed a lawsuit against other partners at Venable, claiming sex discrimination and citing Emhoff by name. The lawsuit suggested that Emhoff hired an “unqualified” secretary due to her appearance and friendliness with influential men in the office. Although the lawsuit did not name Emhoff as a defendant, the allegations against him contribute to a broader narrative challenging his public image as a feminist ally.
Emhoff has been the subject of several scandals involving women, including an allegation of an affair with a nanny during his first marriage, resulting in the woman becoming pregnant. Emhoff and a spokesman have denied these allegations, although he admits to adultery.
In recent interviews, Emhoff has emphasized redefining masculinity and support for women, contrasting sharply with the accusations from his former workplace. Vice President Harris, in unrelated comments, has encouraged victims of sexism and abuse to speak out.
Emhoff’s past as a lawyer also includes work on controversial cases, such as defending a nightclub owner in a harassment case and representing a pharmaceutical company in a lawsuit over the side effects of a drug it produced.
Image by U.S. Embassy New Zealand.
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