WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ashley Biden, the daughter of former President Joe Biden, has filed for divorce from her husband, Dr. Howard Krein, after more than 13 years of marriage, according to court records cited by The New York Post.
The 44-year-old filed the paperwork Monday in Philadelphia’s Court of Common Pleas. The reason for the separation was not immediately clear, and Philadelphia divorce records are not publicly available.
Biden and Krein married in June 2012 in Greenville, Delaware, two years after they were introduced by her late brother, Beau Biden. Ashley later reflected publicly on the wedding while introducing her father at the Democratic National Convention, recalling how involved Joe Biden had been in preparing for the celebration.
Following the filing, Ashley posted a photograph of herself walking through a park and giving a thumbs-up, accompanied by Beyoncé’s song “Freedom.” She also shared a message about beginning a new chapter and establishing new boundaries, though she did not directly address the divorce filing in the post.
The personal development comes as her father faces renewed political and legal scrutiny over decisions made during the final months of his presidency.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer has continued investigating Biden’s use of an autopen to sign official documents, including pardons and executive orders. Comer has questioned whether Biden personally authorized every action carrying his signature, particularly after concerns about the president’s cognitive fitness intensified following his June 2024 debate performance.
Comer has argued that the committee’s findings could potentially become evidence in future legal challenges involving certain presidential actions. However, such challenges would face significant constitutional and legal questions, and no court has ruled that Biden’s pardons or executive orders are invalid because an autopen was used.
Legal scholar Alan Dershowitz has also discussed the issue, identifying questions surrounding both the type of document involved and whether the president personally authorized the signature.
The debate over Biden’s mental fitness intensified after his widely criticized debate against Donald Trump in 2024. Biden subsequently ended his reelection campaign and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris.
Earlier, Special Counsel Robert Hur’s report concerning Biden’s handling of classified documents described concerns about his memory, while stopping short of recommending criminal charges.
Biden has since defended his presidential decisions, telling The New York Times that he personally made decisions regarding pardons. Former aides, however, have acknowledged that he did not individually review every name included in categorical clemency actions.
The developments involving Ashley Biden and the continuing investigation into her father are separate matters, but both have drawn renewed attention to the Biden family during a period of heightened public scrutiny.
For Ashley, the divorce filing marks a deeply personal transition after more than a decade of marriage. For Joe Biden, questions surrounding his final months in office remain part of a broader political and legal debate over presidential authority, executive actions and the decision-making process inside the White House.
