Ashley Biden, daughter of President Joe Biden, has filed for divorce from her husband of 13 years, plastic surgeon Dr. Howard Krein, according to court records and statements from her representatives. The 44-year-old submitted the filing Monday in Philadelphia, ending a marriage that began in 2012 with a reception hosted by her parents at their Wilmington, Del., lake house.
The divorce comes as Ashley's stolen personal diary-first obtained by conservative group Project Veritas in 2020-has resurfaced in media coverage. The diary, which dates from January to September 2019, includes candid accounts of struggles with drug and alcohol addiction, sex addiction, and personal relationships. One entry reads: "I have always been boy crazy. Hyper-sexualized @ a young age... I remember somewhat being sexualized with (first cousin) Caroline; I remember having sex with friends @ a young age; showers w/ my dad (probably not appropriate)."
Another passage details a relapse and her family's reaction: "I relapsed. F---ing again. The difference this time around was that I told Elizabeth, Mom + Dad this morning. Mom + Dad worried but incredibly supportive. I am so lucky to have them on my side."
The diary also reflects on her marriage, with one entry stating: "Here I am talking about another man when I am married! It all feels strange. Started hanging out with a new guy... It's been refreshing to be able to kiss another man." While Project Veritas did not publish the full diary, citing the Bidens' refusal to confirm its authenticity, portions have circulated through other outlets.
Ashley marked the divorce filing on Instagram by sharing a selfie set to Beyoncé's "Freedom" and posting a quote over Lauryn Hill's "Freedom Time" that read: "New life, new beginnings means new boundaries. New ways of being that won't look or sound like they did before."
The couple's relationship began in 2010 after being introduced by Ashley's late half-brother Beau Biden. Their wedding combined her Catholic faith with Krein's Jewish heritage. At the time, then-Vice President Biden said, "This is the right guy. And he's getting a helluva woman." Ashley later recalled that before walking her down the aisle, her father told her he would always be her best friend, adding at last year's Democratic National Convention, "All these years later, Dad, you are still my best friend."
Reports indicate the pair remained amicable until recently, with Krein appearing at the White House last year. However, he was absent from Thanksgiving family photos, and Ashley was seen without her wedding ring in the months before the filing. Details on what prompted the divorce have not been disclosed.
