Freshman California Rep. Katie Hill is fighting back after right-wing outlets published her nude photos and alleged she had an improper relationship with a staffer.
Last week, the right-wing blog RedState published a nude photo of Hill and a female campaign staffer, alleging that the two were in a “throuple” relationship with Hill’s husband of nine years. The blog also alleged that Hill had a relationship with a Capitol Hill staffer, which ended her marriage. Hill is currently in divorce proceedings.
Hill, who is openly bisexual, admitted to having a relationship with a female campaign staffer but denied a relationship with her male congressional staffer.
"During the final tumultuous years of my abusive marriage, I became involved in a relationship with someone on my campaign," Hill said in a letter to her constituents. "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.”
Hill alleged that the photos were leaked by her ex-husband, who she said “seems determined to try to humiliate me.”
“The truth is, distributing intimate photos with the intent to publish them is a crime, and the perpetrator should be punished to the full extent of the law,” she said in the letter to her constituents.
Hill faces ethics probe:
The House Ethics Committee announced that they will investigate Hill after the allegations.
“The Committee is aware of public allegations that Representative Katie Hill may have engaged in a sexual relationship with an individual on her congressional staff,” the committee said in a statement. “The Committee … has begun an investigation and will gather additional information regarding the allegations.”
Hill said she would cooperate with the probe.
"I am saddened that the deeply personal matter of my divorce has been brought into public view, even the false allegations of a relationship with my congressional staffer, which I have publicly denied, and I am fully and proactively cooperating with the Ethics Committee," she said.
Hill threatens lawsuit after DailyMail publishes another nude photo:
On Thursday, the right-wing UK-based outlet DailyMail published another nude photo of Hill that shows her holding a bong. The report purported that she also had a “Nazi tattoo,” though that claim has been refuted.
Attorneys for Hill threatened legal action and demanded the outlet take down the photo.
“This letter serves as notice that civil and criminal laws prohibit the publication of images of the character you have posted, and that our client is prepared to take all necessary means to protect her rights and to protect herself from an unprecedented, unwarranted and extraordinary offensive invasion of personal privacy,” the lawyers wrote.
