Things just got a lot more complicated for disgraced former Democratic Rep. Katie Hill and her legion of sycophantic fans in the news and entertainment industries.
The effort to rehabilitate Hill’s image after she was muscled out of Congress over allegations of sexual misconduct ran into a brick wall early Wednesday morning. Someone claiming to be Hill’s former congressional staff tweeted from her until-now defunct congressional Twitter account, claiming that the allegations of sexual abuse are 100% true.
“Disappointed in so many folks … regarding today’s announcement,” the alleged “former staff” said in direct response to the news that Hill’s self-pitying book, She Will Rise: Becoming a Warrior in the Battle for True Equality, will be made into a film starring Elisabeth Moss.
They add, “Katie Hill’s story — our story — is also one of workplace abuse and harassment. Katie Hill can be both a victim and perpetrator. And, staff can experience severe consequences for speaking out against their powerful boss.”
Oh, boy.
Hill was pressured to resign from Congress after it was revealed that she had preyed on a campaign worker eight years her minor, taking full advantage of the natural power imbalance that exists in any sexual encounter between a superior and a subordinate. Hill, who admits to the affair with the aide, may also have misappropriated campaign funds to continue paying “consulting fees” to the younger woman as late as September 2019, nearly a full year after Hill won her election. The affair left the campaign worker, whom Hill coaxed into a threesome relationship with Hill’s then-husband Kenny Heslep, in a state that the campaign worker herself described as a “mess.”
There are also separate allegations that Hill was romantically involved with her legislative director, Graham Kelly, who was paid the highest bonus of any aide who worked on the former congresswoman’s 2018 campaign. Hill, who denies engaging in a sexual relationship with Kelly, resigned before lawmakers could investigate the claim.
Since her exit from Congress, Hill has played the role of the selfless martyr, unrepentant and even indignant that anyone would question her behavior as a congresswoman. Members of the news and entertainment industries have played along happily, rewarding her with glossy, softball interviews, a book deal, and now, a film deal.
This latter post-Congress perk apparently proved too much for whoever had controlled Hill’s congressional Twitter account early Wednesday morning.
“Katie Hill is not a hero for women,” the alleged “former staff” said. “We deserve heroes who embody our values even in the most difficult moments. Katie Hill was never investigated by the House Ethics Committee, nor has she been held accountable by anyone other than herself. We encourage everyone to reflect deeply before taking her word at face value.”
They add, “Katie took advantage of her subordinates. She caused immense harm to the people who worked for her, many of whom were young women just beginning their careers in politics. Workplace abuse and harassment can take many different forms, but one thing is certain: it is never okay, even if your boss is a woman and/or a survivor.”
In other words, the account purports to confirm the worst of the allegations against Hill.
“Believe us when we say: it’s not only about who starts it, it’s also about who ends it. And, while Katie is certainly the survivor of abuse, we are not confident that she sufficiently acted to end her own patterns of inappropriate and abusive behavior,” it said.
It concludes, “Enough is enough. In order to advance the #MeToo movement, we must be willing to acknowledge the problematic behaviors among those in our own communities. Only then will we see true progress.”
Hill, for her part, claimed Wednesday that her old congressional account had been hacked.
“Thanks to all who let me know my government official twitter account was hacked,” she tweeted. “Control of my account was immediately handed back to the House Clerk when I resigned, including password changes and access restrictions. God knows who hacked it from there.”
Sure. That is about as believable as Hill’s own claim that she is the real victim in her disgraceful resignation from Congress. Anyway, enjoy the movie, ex-congresswoman. If you tell yourself a lie enough times, you’ll believe it eventually.
