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Harris: Truth vs Lies

Biden's endorsement of Harris for 2024 has ignited public interest in her past. Here's what we know.

Published July 25, 2024 at 6:02am by Alexis Simmerman

President Biden has endorsed VP Kamala Harris as his successor, sparking interest in her career and identity. Here's a fact-check:

Fact #1: Kamala Harris is Black
Claim: Harris isn't Black.
Fact: Harris is the first Black and South Asian VP. Her mother is Indian and her father is Jamaican. She appeals to Black voters and attended an HBCU.

Fact #2: Harris dated Willie Brown post-separation
Claim: Harris' career started due to an affair with married politician Willie Brown.
Fact: While Harris dated Brown in 1994, he separated from his wife in 1982. They broke up in 1996.

Fact #3: Harris & Montel Williams' monogamous relationship
Claim: An Inside Edition clip proves Harris was a "side piece" to Williams.
Fact: Williams clarified that the woman in the clip is his daughter Ashley, dispelling rumors of an unconventional relationship.

Fact #4: Kamala Harris is a natural-born US citizen
Claim: Harris isn't eligible to be president due to citizenship issues.
Fact: Harris, 59, was born in Oakland, CA. She's a US citizen as per the 14th Amendment, meeting the requirements to be president.

Fact #5: Harris advocates for marijuana decriminalization
Claim: As CA AG, Harris incarcerated Black men for marijuana and held them past release dates.
Fact: This misrepresents Harris' position. While criticized for past prosecutions, she now advocates for ending cannabis prohibition and repairing related harms.

-- USA TODAY contributed reporting.