Rep. Katie Hill Resigns From House After Nude Photo Scandal

Rep. Katie Hill (D-California) resigned from the House of Representatives and delivered a farewell speech Thursday, stating her decision was based on the inherent “double standard” working against women in politics. Her resignation goes into effect Friday.

Katie Hill Nude Photo Scandal

Hill was forced to resign after allegations of an improper sexual relationship with a staffer surfaced on right-wing websites. The House Ethics Committee has opened a formal probe over her alleged relationship with legislative director Graham Kelly. Hill denied the allegation, but Hill’s resignation will end the investigation.

Hill claimed that the system punished her while letting males like President Donald Trump and Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh flourish.

Both men have been accused of acts of sexual violence. “I am leaving now because of a double standard,” she said. “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 pedaled 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.”

In her eight-minute farewell speech, Hill attempted to empower women. “The way to overcome this setback is for women to keep showing up, to keep running for office, to keep stepping up as leaders, because the more we show up, the less power they have,” Hill said.