Katie Hill cites duality in sex-scandal outcomes

Former MP Katie Hill (D-Calif.) Told Axios on HBO that she believed her sex scandal was “politically viable” and was considering running for Congress.

Why it matters: Hill suggests a duality of results for women and men. “I’ve seen other people who have had scandals since I left, [Andrew] Cuomo and of course Matt Gaetz… you can see that and of course they don’t give back, ”said Hill.

• “You really wonder how much of that was the pressure I put on myself because I was a woman and because I was an advocate of the #MeToo movement, and how much of that was sexism and … the aspect of the public Shame of it was the revenge porn aspect of it. “

Driving the news: Hill resigned from Congress in October 2019 after admitting a sexual relationship with a campaign worker after a spate of nude photos leaked.

While she said she was considering another campaign for the office, she said it would “take a long time” before she ran for 2022. Hill said she was much happier out of Congress than in it.

Yes but: Hill also admits that what she did – had a sexual relationship with a subordinate – was wrong.

• She had previously danced around the question as the relationship was consensual.
• “Would I ever do it again? No, absolutely not. I blurred those lines and that shouldn’t have happened,” said Hill. “Was it the right thing? No.”

The big picture: Hill represents a new generation of young people, especially young women, who spent their lives online when they came to power.

• When asked whether young people have a past and can still run for office, Hill calls this “the question of our time”.
• “If we want to have authentic politicians, if we want people to represent us, who have real experience and who have not been formed as part of a political family, I hope we will vote for people who are not fake but they are real and may have had a chaotic life. “
• She is now working to help young women and women of color get elected through her political action committee, HER Time.

The background story: Hill defeated Republican incumbent Steve Knight (R-Calif.) In the 2018 midterm race for California’s 25th District and immediately became an instant star in the 116th Congress.

• She was endorsed by former President Obama and described by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., As someone she saw a lot of herself in.
• Hill became an alternate for the freshman class of Congress and was appointed to high profile committees including the boards of House Oversight and Armed Services.
• In October 2019, several outlets posted nude photos of Hill, first learned about through her employees, alleging that she had had inappropriate sexual relations with employees.
• Within about a week, Hill admitted to having a relationship with a former campaign employee and resigned from Congress. She blamed her “abusive husband” for the revelations.

The latest: TThat month, Hill was sentenced to pay over $ 200,000 in legal fees to the Conservative outlets she sued for posting her nude photos without her consent.

• A Los Angeles judge ruled that Hill’s lawsuit did not meet the requirements of the state porn statute and also alleged that the outlets were protected by the first amendment because Hill was an elected official and the photos were in the “public interest.”
• Hill told Axios that she is still considering whether to appeal the decision.
• Meanwhile, she is advocating the passing of the SHIELD Act, which makes cyber exploitation a federal crime, and the Violence Against Women Act.