Where Jill and Joe Biden having an affair while they were married to their spouses?
Executive summary
The short answer: no verifiable evidence shows Joe and Jill Biden had a sexual affair while Jill was still married to her first husband; the claim rests primarily on allegations from Jill’s ex-husband, Bill Stevenson, which the Bidens and independent fact‑checkers have disputed and shown to be inconsistent with the couple’s established timeline [1] [2] [3]. Multiple tabloid and partisan outlets continue to repeat Stevenson’s account, while mainstream reporters and fact‑checkers note the divergence of his story from Jill and Joe Biden’s version and flag potential motives for his claims [4] [5] [6].
1. The competing timelines: how the story differs
Jill and Joe Biden’s publicly told account is that they went on a first date in March 1975 after Jill’s separation and divorce from Bill Stevenson, and later married in 1977; that timeline is the version the campaign and Jill’s memoir present [1] [7]. By contrast, Stevenson has repeatedly said he knew the Bidens from as early as 1972 and alleges Joe and Jill began a relationship in 1974 while Jill was still married to him, a claim that would imply an extramarital affair [4] [5].
2. Who is making the allegation and how consistent is the record?
The affair allegation comes primarily from Bill Stevenson, Jill Biden’s first husband, in interviews with tabloids and conservative outlets going back to 2020; those interviews describe a 1974 start to the relationship and claim he confronted Jill over it [4] [6]. Mainstream outlets report Stevenson’s claims but also note denials from Jill Biden’s representatives and show the variation between Stevenson’s timeline and the Bidens’ account [8] [9].
3. Independent checks and mainstream reporting on the claim
Independent fact‑checkers and Reuters reviewed the competing narratives and found social‑media posts and tabloids pushing versions inconsistent with documented dates; Reuters and AFP say the claim that the Bidens’ relationship began while Jill was still married is unproven and that the Bidens’ stated timeline (first date in 1975) is supported by their accounts and contemporaneous reporting [2] [3]. Those fact‑checks also highlight false or exaggerated social media narratives that go beyond Stevenson’s allegations [2] [3].
4. Assessing credibility and possible agendas
Reporting notes factors relevant to evaluating Stevenson’s claims: he has promoted a book and has given interviews to outlets friendly to former President Trump, which independent accounts flag as possible motives for publicity or partisan amplification; at the same time, denial statements from Jill’s representatives described the allegations as “fictitious” and commercially motivated [6] [5] [1]. Tabloid coverage tends to present Stevenson’s story in sensational terms without corroborating documentary evidence [4] [10].
5. What the available evidence does — and does not — prove
Documentation assembled by mainstream outlets and fact‑checkers does not corroborate Stevenson’s version that a sexual affair began while Jill was legally married to him; the Bidens’ timeline and Jill’s memoir place their first date after her separation, and independent fact‑checks characterize viral claims to the contrary as false or misleading [1] [7] [3]. That said, absolute proof about private interactions decades ago is limited in the public record, and Stevenson’s repeated public assertions mean the allegation remains part of the public debate despite lacking independent corroboration in reputable reporting [4] [5].
6. Conclusion — the direct answer
Based on the available reporting, there is no verified evidence that Joe and Jill Biden had an affair while Jill was still married to Bill Stevenson; the allegation rests on Stevenson’s contested account and has been denied by Jill Biden and found inconsistent with mainstream timelines and fact‑checks [1] [2] [3]. Because claims are disputed and rely on a single primary accuser whose motives have been questioned in coverage, the most accurate statement is that the affair allegation is unproven and contradicted by the Bidens’ documented version of events.