Freshman Rep. Katie Hill, D-Calif., who Sunday announced she was resigning her congressional seat after a House Ethics Committee investigation was launched into claims she had had improper sexual relations with a campaign staffer, said "right-wing media" fed into the complaint that had been made about her by spreading "revenge porn" from her estranged husband.
"This coordinated campaign carried out by the right-wing media and Republican opponents enabling and perpetuating my husband's abuse by providing him a platform is disgusting and unforgivable, and they will be held accountable," Hill said in a video released Monday, reports Mediaite. "So, I have to take my personal fight outside of Congress."
Hill added, as the "victim" of the attacks against her, she will "fight to ensure no one else has to live through what I just experienced."
"Some people call this electronic assault, digital exploitation, others call it revenge porn," said Hill, whose resignation will be effective at the end of the week. "As the victim of it, I call it one of the worst things we can do to our sisters and our daughters. I will not allow my experience to scare off other young women or girls from running for office."
Hill had admitted to having an "inappropriate" relationship with a female campaign staffer. The accusations had been linked to stories published in a conservative blog and in The Daily Mail. The newspaper has also published nude photographs of Hill in various situations with the campaign worker, without the outgoing congresswoman's consent.
"I need you to know that my fight is not over," Hill said. "Those of you who know me know that I am a fighter."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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