Ashley Biden, the daughter of former President Joe Biden, has filed for divorce from her husband, Dr. Howard Krein, ending a marriage that lasted more than 13 years. According to court records, the 44-year-old submitted the divorce paperwork on Monday in Philadelphia’s Court of Common Pleas. The filing marks a significant personal change for Ashley Biden, though the specific reasons for the separation remain private, as divorce records in Philadelphia are not accessible to the public.
While neither Ashley Biden nor Dr. Krein has issued a formal public statement regarding the split, Ashley appeared to subtly acknowledge the transition through social media. In a recent Instagram post, she shared a photo of herself walking through a park, smiling and giving a thumbs-up. The image was accompanied by Beyoncé’s song “Freedom,” a track often associated with resilience and personal empowerment. In another post, she shared a quote that read, “New life, new beginnings, means new boundaries,” a message many interpreted as signaling reflection, change, and a forward-looking mindset.
Ashley Biden and Howard Krein, a prominent plastic surgeon, were introduced by her late brother, Beau Biden. The couple married in June 2012 in Delaware in a ceremony that brought together family, friends, and political figures. Ashley has spoken warmly in the past about their wedding, including during her speech at the 2024 Democratic National Convention. In that address, she recalled how her father, then serving as Vice President, took a hands-on role in organizing the event, paying close attention to details such as décor, table settings, and even the placement of plants. The anecdote offered a personal glimpse into the Biden family dynamic and highlighted the closeness they shared at the time.
As Ashley navigates this personal transition, her father, former President Joe Biden, is facing heightened political and legal scrutiny. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer has recently raised questions regarding Biden’s mental fitness while in office. Comer has alleged that cognitive decline during Biden’s presidency may have implications for the legality of certain executive actions, including executive orders and presidential pardons that were signed using an autopen rather than by hand.
These claims have sparked debate among legal scholars and political commentators. Some, including constitutional lawyer Alan Dershowitz, have suggested that legal challenges could arise if it were shown that a president did not personally approve significant decisions. The discussion gained momentum following Biden’s widely criticized debate performance during the 2024 election cycle. In the aftermath, aides acknowledged that the former president did not individually review every name included in broad clemency actions, a revelation that has fueled further questions from critics.
Supporters of Biden argue that the use of an autopen is a long-established practice in modern presidencies and does not, by itself, invalidate executive actions. They also contend that broad delegations and administrative processes are common in large-scale governance. Nonetheless, the issue remains a focal point for political opponents seeking accountability and transparency.
Together, these developments underscore a moment of transition and challenge for the Biden family, blending deeply personal change with ongoing national political debate.
