Katie Hill Blasts 'Misogynistic' Politics In Defiant House Speech

LOS ANGELES, CA — Rep. Katie Hill, D-Santa Clarita, ended her brief Congressional career with a defiant speech on the floor of the House Thursday, blaming right-wing operatives and a "misogynistic culture" for her downfall.

On the job for less than a year, Hill resigned this week after a conservative online publication posted her intimate texts and nude photos of her in a series of articles accusing her of sexual misconduct with a campaign aid and a Congressional staffer. Hill denied the affair with the staffer, which would be a violation of House rules, but the House Ethics Committee opened an investigation into the allegation last week.

"I'm leaving now because of a double standard," Hill said. "I'm leaving because I no longer want to be used as a bargaining chip. I'm leaving because I didn't want to be peddled by papers and blogs and websites used by shameless operatives for the dirtiest gutter politics that I've ever seen, and the right-wing media to drive clicks and expand their audience by distributing intimate photographs of me taken without my knowledge -- let alone my consent -- for the sexual entertainment of millions."

Hill claims her abusive, estranged husband leaked the photos — an act of revenge porn enabled by Republican operatives. She conceded having a relationship with a female member of her campaign staff along with her now-estranged husband.

Hill, 32, has repeatedly blamed her husband for the public release of the photos. While speaking in Congress Thursday, Hill decried a "misogynistic culture that gleefully consumed my naked pictures, capitalized on my sexuality and enabled my abusive ex to continue that abuse, this time with the entire country watching."

Hill, California's first openly bisexual member of Congress, said last week she had contacted U.S. Capitol Police about the photos.

Hill is expected to formally step down from her congressional seat on Friday.

The 25th Congressional District includes Santa Clarita Valley, and portions of the northern San Fernando Valley, Antelope Valley and eastern Ventura County.

City News Service and Patch Staffer contributed to this report.