In early October, credible reports emerged of Doug Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, slapping his ex-girlfriend during a public altercation in 2012. Now, after weeks of the press refusing to cover the story, he's finally been asked about it.

The allegation stems from three corroborating sources who say the ex-girlfriend told them about the assault. While out for a night on the town, Emhoff reportedly launched into a jealous rage, slapping his then-girlfriend across the face. She then attempted to escape in a taxi. The next day, Emhoff was allegedly unapologetic. 

SEE: Doug Emhoff Reportedly Slapped His Ex-Girlfriend so Hard, it Spun Her Around 

That news followed on the heels of the revelation that Emhoff committed adultery with a nanny and got her pregnant. While he has already admitted to that, the press has shut that story down as well, refusing to investigate further, including finding out what happened to the child. 

Putting it all together, Emhoff appears to have some serious problems, and they are the kinds of problems that would never be left to lie if they centered on a Republican. Enter MSNBC's Joe Scarborough. After over a week of no one asking Emhoff about the incident, the "Morning Joe" host did technically bring it up, though how he framed it is a lesson in shamelessness.

SCARBOROUGH: He's spreading it about you, saying that, tabloid stories about your personal life, saying it should be front and center, he's saying it about your wife and making incredibly crude and lewd suggestions bout her past life. I'm just curious. I know I seem like a very zen, mindful person, but I think I'd be pissed off, and I'm just wondering how do you all stay centered? How do you stay disciplined and not really go off and not really push back hard at these things?

EMHOFF: We don't have time to be pissed off. We don't have time to focus on it. It's all a distraction. It's designed to try to get us off our game

SCARBOROUGH: Does it get you off your game?

EMHOFF: Now, all we are doing, all we talk about is this election. We understand the stakes. We understand the responsibility. 

SCARBOROUGH: What are the stakes?

EMHOFF: We understand, our very country, our future. What kind of future are we gonna have?

Yes, you read that correctly. Joe Scarborough reframed a question about "tabloid stories," including an allegation that Emhoff slapped a woman, into asking how Emhoff and Kamala Harris "stay centered." It's just astonishing, especially coming from the very same people who spent years insisting that all women must be believed no matter the situation. 

As to Emhoff's answer, he sure didn't deny the allegations, did he? That's about as close to an admission as you're going to get. Remember, this guy is a lawyer. Rest assured he knew exactly what he was doing when he used the word "distraction" instead of just saying he didn't do what he's been accused of. 

Talk about making matters worse. If anything, this just breathed new life into the story. The Trump campaign is already making hay, putting out posts noting the non-denial. No matter how much the mainstream press tries, people are going to continue talking about this, and it's a window into who Doug Emhoff and Kamala Harris are.