Social media users are sharing online content alleging that President-elect Joe Biden’s sister – Valerie Biden Owens – is married to Stephen Owens, ‘the owner’ of Dominion Voting Systems, which sells electronic hardware and software. This statement is false.
Examples of the content can be seen here and here.
One post here reads: “Hmmm…. ‘Joe Biden and his brother-in-law Stephen D Owens, owner of the Dominion voting system! What do you have to say now ???? ”
The report shows a photo of Biden with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, who is not his brother-in-law. The original photo can be seen on Biden’s campaign website joebiden.com/endorsements/.
Stephen Owens is the managing director and co-founder of Staple Street Capital. The company participated in an agreement with management to acquire Dominion in 2018 (here, here, here).
There is no evidence that Biden’s sister, Valerie Biden Owens, is married to Stephen Owens. She is married to John (Jack) Owens, as noted here, here, here, and www.valeriebidenowens.com/bio/.
A photo of Jack Owens can be seen here and a photo of Stephen Owens can be seen here.
The New York Times reports that Valerie Biden married John Owens in 1975 (here) and that they have three children, Valerie James Owens, Cuffe Biden Owens and Catherine Eugenia Owens (here).
The reports link Valerie Biden Owens to Stephen Owens based on the fact that they have the same surname. Owens is a common surname in the United States, the genealogical portal Forebears said (forebears.io/surnames/owens).
A spokesman for Dominion Voting Systems confirmed by email to Reuters that Stephen Owens had no family ties or business relationship with Valerie Biden Owens.
VERDICT
Untrue. Joe Biden’s sister, Valerie Biden Owens, is not married to Stephen Owens.
This article was produced by the Reuters Fact Check team. Read more about our fact-checking work here.