California Rep. Katie Hill derided the media and conservative political operatives for leaking her affair and inappropriate photos during her final speech on the House floor Thursday afternoon.
Hill, 32, had photos published by RedState earlier this month that show her naked in a hotel room, brushing the hair of a female campaign staffer who worked on her 2018 congressional campaign. Additional photos were later published that showed her holding a bong while undressed. She did apologize and admitted she had an affair with the female campaign aide and resigned days later.
“Ever since those images first came out, I’ve barely left my bed. I’ve ignored all the calls and the texts. I went to the darkest places that a mind can go. And I’ve shed more tears than I thought were possible. I’ve hidden from the world because I’m terrified of facing the people that I let down,” she began.
“I am leaving now because of a double standard,” Hill added. “I am 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 photos of me, taken without my knowledge let alone my consent, for the sexual entertainment of millions.”
Hill’s speech came after she voted in favor of the House impeachment resolution, which was brought to the floor by the Democratic caucus. This was her final vote before she officially steps down.
“I’m leaving because of 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 went on.
She also said that she’s received “thousands of vial, threatening emails, calls and texts,” leading her to fear for the safety and well-being of herself and her family.
[Related: Pelosi praises embattled Katie Hill and condemns ‘cyber exploitation’]
