Katie Hill Resigns After Allegations of Relationship With Staffer, Vows to Fight Revenge Porn

Freshman California Rep. Katie Hill announced that she would resign amid an ethics investigation into allegations that she had a sexual relationship with a congressional aide.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said on Sunday that Hill had acknowledged “errors in judgment that made her continued service as a member untenable.”

Hill said in a statement that “it is with a broken heart that today I announce my resignation from Congress.”

“This is the hardest thing I have ever had to do, but I believe it is the best thing for my constituents, my community and our country,” she said.

Hill said that the allegations against her and nude photos published by conservative outlets were part of a “smear campaign” by her estranged husband. Hill, who is openly bisexual, is in divorce proceedings with him now.

“Having private photos of personal moments weaponized against me has been an appalling invasion of my privacy,” she wrote. “It’s also illegal, and we are currently pursuing all of our available legal options. However, I know that as long as I am in Congress, we’ll live fearful of what might come next and how much it will hurt.

“That’s a feeling I know all too well,” she added. “It’s the feeling I decided to leave when I left my marriage, and one I will not tolerate being forced upon others. I can no longer allow my community, family, friends, staff, supporters and especially the children who look up to me as a role model, to suffer this unprecedented brand of cruelty.”

Hill denied relationship with aide:

Earlier this month, the conservative blog RedState published a nude photo of Hill and a campaign staffer and text messages purporting to show that the two of them were in a “throuple” relationship with Hill’s husband. The post also alleged that Hill later had a relationship with a congressional staffer, which is banned by Congress.

Hill admitted that she had an “inappropriate” relationship with a female campaign aide, but denied having a relationship with a Congressional staffer.

"During the final tumultuous years of my abusive marriage, I became involved in a relationship with someone on my campaign," Hill said last week. "I know that even a consensual relationship with a subordinate is inappropriate, but I still allowed it to happen despite my better judgment. For that I apologize.”

George Papadopoulos may run for Hill’s seat:

Hill flipped a red district last year, becoming the first Democrat to win in 26 years. She quickly rose to a senior position on the House Oversight Committee and was appointed to the Armed Services Committee.

Numerous Republicans vying for her seat seized on her announcement, including George Papadopoulos, the Trump campaign adviser who triggered the Russia investigation and pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI in the Mueller probe.

Papadopoulos has been rumored to be considering a bid for Hill’s seat.

“I’m smelling blood in the water now that Katie Hill has resigned,” he tweeted. “California’s 25th congressional district is wide open for the taking. Someone has to step up. I love my state too much to see it run down by candidates like Hill. All talk, no action, and a bunch of sell outs.”

 

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