• Home
  • Mail
  • News
  • Finance
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Search
  • Mobile
  • More
Yahoo
    • Skip to Navigation
    • Skip to Main Content
    • Skip to Related Content
    • Mail
    Lifestyle Home
    Follow Us
    • Style
    • Beauty
    • Wellness
    • Shopping
    • MAKERS
    • Holiday Guide for Guys
    • Pets
    • Video
    • Horoscopes
    • Pop Culture

    Kamala Harris Defended Representative Katie Hill and Called Out "Cyber Exploitation"

    Kimberly Truong
    InStyleOctober 29, 2019
    Reblog
    Share
    Tweet
    Share
    Kamala Harris Defended Representative Katie Hill and Called Out "Cyber Exploitation"

    Presidential candidate Kamala Harris has defended Katie Hill, the U.S. Representative who resigned after intimate photos of her with a staffer were shared without her consent.

    On Monday, Sen. Harris told BuzzFeed News that Hill, a close ally, is a victim of "cyber exploitation," and that the release of the photos was part of a "campaign of harassment and intimidation."

    Hill, a California Democrat, announced on Sunday she would be resigning from Congress after it was alleged that she was involved in intimate relationships with a staff members. Hill denied allegations that she was involved with legislative director Graham Kelly, but admitted to a consensual but "inappropriate" relationship with a female staffer, and apologized for it. She has said the leaked censored images showing herself and the anonymous staffer, published on the websites RedState and the Daily Mail, came from her estranged husband, whom she called "abusive."

    "It was clearly meant to embarrass her," Harris told BuzzFeed News of the photos. "There’s so much that people do about women and their sexuality that’s about shaming them."

    She also said that while she respects Hill's decision to resign and "do what’s best for her and her constituents," the situation exposed a double standard for women politics.

    "But, you know, let’s also speak the truth that men and women are not held to the same standards," she said. "I mean, look at who’s in the White House."

    After the images were published, Hill said she notified Capitol Hill police of the incident, and that they are investigating the "potential legal violations of those who posted and distributed the photos" without consent. Revenge porn, or nonconsensual pornography, is illegal in the District of Columbia, and punishable by up to 180 days in jail.

    "During the final tumultuous years of my abusive marriage, I became involved in a relationship with someone on my campaign," she said in a statement last week. "I know that even a consensual relationship with a subordinate is inappropriate, but I still allowed it to happen despite my better judgment. For that I apologize. I wish nothing but the best for her and hope everyone respects her privacy in this difficult time."

    "But the truth is, distributing intimate photos with the intent to publish them is a crime, and the perpetrator should be punished to the full extent of the law," she continued.

    Hill was seen as a rising star within the Democratic Party. She is one of the first openly bisexual women in Congress, and flipped what had long been a red district when she defeated Republican incumbent Steve Knight to represent California's 25th Congressional District. The New York Times reported that she was a "favorite" of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who named her vice chairwoman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, an unusually high-ranking position for a freshman in Congress. After news of her resignation, Pelosi released a statement saying Hill "made a great contribution as a leader of the Freshman Class."

    Hill also received a statement of support from Republican congressman Matt Gaetz, who suggested she was being targeted due to her sexuality. "Katie isn’t being investigated by Ethics or maligned because she hurt anyone — it is because she is different," he tweeted last week.

    This is just absurd. The only person who seems to have a gripe is @RepKatieHill’s soon-to-be ex.

    Who among us would look perfect if every ex leaked every photo/text?

    Katie isn’t being investigated by Ethics or maligned because she hurt anyone - it is because she is different. https://t.co/Czrc2k8z8X



    — Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) October 24, 2019

    RELATED: Kamala Harris is Ready to Talk About "the Elephant in the Room"

    While her relationship with a staffer may be, as Hill said, "inappropriate," she is still the victim of revenge porn — a crime in 46 states as well as D.C.

    Harris told BuzzFeed that the release of Hill's photos was a means of "public shaming."

    "It just sends a signal to other women that’s discouraging them from running for office," she added.

    Reblog
    Share
    Tweet
    Share

    What to Read Next

    • Two Women Landed in the ER After Using a Vacuum to End Their Periods, According to a Nurse's Scary Viral Tweet

      Meredith Videos
    • Elizabeth Hurley, 54, shows off her figure in striped bikini: 'Just like a fine wine'

      Yahoo Lifestyle
    • Add this Superdry faux fur jacket to your winter shopping list ASAP

      Yahoo Lifestyle
    • Dolly Parton Says Having Kids With Husband Carl Dean Just “Wasn’t Meant to Be”

      Prevention
    • Cardi B Gave Offset $500,000 in Cash for His Birthday and I'm Not Okay

      Cosmopolitan
    • Courteney Cox Just Responded to Being Mistaken for Caitlyn Jenner in a Recent Picture on Instagram

      Marie Claire
    • Colin Firth and Livia Giuggioli Split a Year After She Admits to Affair With Her Alleged Stalker

      Good Housekeeping
    • Woman’s explicit Christmas display draws outrage from neighbors: ‘It's certainly a statement‘

      In The Know
    • Kendall Jenner Was Photographed at Her Ex Ben Simmons' Basketball Game in Philadelphia

      Elle
    • Um, Why Was Kelly Clarkson Glued to Her Phone During 'The Voice' Live Shows?

      Country Living
    • Some People Are *Convinced* Kris Jenner Is Interviewing a Young Beyoncé in This Vintage Clip from 1992

      Marie Claire
    • 'I Couldn't Buckle My Seatbelt On The Plane To My Honeymoon—So I Tried Keto And Lost 102 Lbs.'

      Women's Health
    • Jennifer Lopez Works Out in Miami in All-White Look With Her Go-To Sneakers

      Footwear News
    • Khloé Kardashian Went Braless in a Gold Blazer and Matching Pants for Diddy's 50th Birthday Party

      Marie Claire
    • Kourtney Kardashian’s Cozy Sunday Morning Look Includes a Pink Skims Set + Yeezy Sneakers

      Footwear News
    • Beyoncé Outdid All Holiday Party Looks in This Embellished Black High-Leg Slit Dress

      Elle

    Trump a 'threat' to national security, House Judiciary Committee chairman says

    SickofBS: Voting for house and senate is as important as who we vote for President these days

    Join the Conversation
    1 / 5

    3.1k

    • Blake Lively Wore a Festive Glittery Skirt and T-Shirt to Taylor Swift's 30th Birthday Party

      Marie Claire
    • Tyler C. Opens Up About Hannah B. Not Wanting to Have Sex With Him During Fantasy Suites

      Cosmopolitan
    • See Psalm Makes His Debut in This Year's Kardashian-West Family Christmas Card

      Delish
    • Brad Pitt Will Celebrate Christmas with Just Three of His Kids

      Harper's Bazaar
    • Maddening Cowboys blew out Rams but proved little overall as NFC East showdown with Eagles awaits

      Yahoo Sports
    • I Haven't Worn a Bra in Years—Here's What I Wear Instead

      Who What Wear
    • Kylie Jenner Rocked a Thigh-High Leg Slit at Diddy's 50th Birthday Party

      Harper's Bazaar
    • Luke Bryan's Red Stag Was Shot and Killed at His Family's Farm

      Country Living
    • Deli owner replies to hundreds of letters to Santa sent from his store: 'I’m doing this for the Christmas spirit'

      Yahoo Lifestyle
    • Your Horoscope for the Week of December 16, 2019

      Glamour
    • Adam Driver Used to Eat a Whole Rotisserie Chicken Every Day, Which Feels Right Somehow

      Men's Health
    • 15 New Year Bible Verses to Help You Start 2020 On a Faithful Note

      Woman's Day
    • Teen fired from Christian camp counselor job for being gay: ‘I’m heartbroken’

      Yahoo Lifestyle
    • 'This shampoo has changed my life': The anti-thinning hair miracle with nearly 11,000 positive reviews is on sale today for $30

      Yahoo Lifestyle
    • No More Snake Oil: Science Has Finally Uncovered Legitimate Ways to Boost Our Life Span

      Robb Report
    • Former NFL player accused of faking hate crime by spray-painting racist slurs and MAGA graffiti at his business

      Yahoo Lifestyle