Katie Hill Resigns

“Freshman Rep. Katie Hill, a rising Democratic star in the House, announced her resignation amid an ethics probe, saying explicit private photos of her with a campaign staffer had been ‘weaponized’ by her husband and political operatives.” (AP News)

The left argues Hill is being held to a double standard, and criticizes the release of the photographs.

“If, as has been alleged, she had a consensual sexual relationship with a staffer in her congressional office, the 32-year old Democrat should have earned a slap on the wrist. To show how seriously Congress has taken that sort of thing (not), it wasn’t even until last year that the House changed its rules to prohibit sexual relationships between members and their employees. And wouldn’t you know it — the first lawmaker to fall afoul of the new House rule is a woman, and an unabashedly bisexual woman at that…

“Quite apart from the harsh double standards faced by female politicians — they can’t be too shrill, they have to be likable, on and on — Hill is also being punished, or punishing herself, for one colossally fantastically unbelievably stupid move: Posing for nude photographs, alone and with a woman who appears to be a lover, while running for Congress.” (Robin Abcarian, LA Times)

The right condemns Hill’s behavior, and accuses her defenders of hypocrisy.

“Flip Hill's gender, and we wouldn't even be discussing it. This was a clear abuse of power by a powerful person over a subordinate… The pattern of behavior here indicates that Hill didn't just wind up in a one-off affair with someone who happened to be younger than her. She deliberately began relationships with people she had the power to hire and fire, and then she violated House ethics rules while doing it…

“The conclusion of this unsavory saga isn't a slut-shaming indictment of third-wave feminism. If Hill happened to have a promiscuous personal life with people not under her pay or in violation of ethics, there's little doubt that she'd be able to ride out the storm… this is, in fact, a #MeToo success story, one that proves that the powerful, even women, can still be held to account.” (Tiana Lowe, Washington Examiner)