It was a stunning rise and fall. In November 2018, Katie Hill was elected to be a U.S. Representative of California's 25th congressional district. She was one of twenty millennials to be elected to Congress in the midterm election. Hill, who is openly bisexual, was considered to be a rising star in the Democratic party, and she supported climate change legislation and LGBTQ rights.

Scandal Breaks

But in October 2019, just ten months into her term as Representative, copies of intimate text messages and nude photos were leaked to a conservative website, including one photo showing Hill apparently engaging in a threesome with her husband and a woman from her campaign staff. Then a rumor began circulating that Hill had also had an affair with a male legislative staffer. An affair with a legislative staffer would have violated House rules and warranted an investigation, but an affair with a campaign staffer is not illegal.

Hill vehemently denied the affair with the legislative staffer and admitted that the relationship with her female staff member was poor judgment. Neither person involved in the two incidents has accused Hill of any abuse. Hill blamed the leaked photos and outing of her personal life on her soon-to-be-ex-husband, Kenneth Heslep. Hill and Heslep have been involved in an acrimonious divorce this year.

On October 31, 2019, Hill announced she would resign from Congress amidst the scandal. In her farewell speech, Hill stated,

I am leaving because of a misogynistic culture that gleefully consumed my naked pictures, capitalized on my sexuality, and enabled my abusive ex to continue that abuse, this time with the entire country watching.

Revenge Porn in California

Millennials like Hill live out their lives online. Many openly share intimate details of their lives on multiple social media platforms. But sexual messages and photos can easily be turned against someone by a disgruntled ex-partner, also known as revenge porn. A 2016 study from Data & Society shows that 4% of Americans have had their photos posted without their consent—roughly 10.4 million people.

If Heslep did leak the photos to the conservative website that published them, he could face criminal charges because revenge porn is illegal in California. Revenge porn is under the umbrella of domestic abuse, and Hill could ask to have a permanent domestic violence restraining order filed against him, which would have long-lasting impacts on him for the rest of his life.

Sigal Law Group

Without question, Katie Hill's lawyers are probably working very hard to find out who distributed the text messages and photos, and this story is far from over. If you have been accused of a sex crime, such as revenge porn in the Los Angeles area, you have the right to defend yourself. An experienced firm like Sigal Law Group can help. Call 818-325-0570 or fill out our contact form today.