Congresswoman Katie Hill has been in a challenging situation lately, as she has been under fire for a set of photos that were leaked to the public, including one showing her nude and using what appears to be a bong.
Hill also seemed to have a tattoo that many have described as “strange,” though that seems to be the least of her worries right now.
The bikini-area tattoo looks like an Iron Cross, a decoration used in Nazi Germany, and is now considered a hate symbol. Her lawyer says that she is not a bigot.
Responses to the leak have been mixed, and many people seem to have lost some respect for the California lawmaker as a result of the incident, while she has been relatively quiet about the situation.
Hill’s career in politics has not been a very long-running one so far, and she is still relatively new to Congress, but as a proud bisexual with strong left-leaning policies and a millennial who was able to flip a red seat, she was seen as a future star in the Democratic party.
Some have speculated that this was the main reason behind the active pursuit of her reputation by some parties, while others believe that she is just facing the same problems that many others in Congress have had to deal with.
In any case, Hill seems to be going through quite a difficult period of her life right now, and besides the legal threat over the shocking photo, there is not much she can do.
Hill herself has not really responded to any of the accusations, and she has been keeping a low profile since the news broke out. Some have taken this as an implicit confirmation of the allegations, but not everyone shares that opinion.
Hill did say: “This coordinated effort to try to destroy me and the people close to me is despicable.”
For the most part, people believe that she is trying to prepare an adequate response before addressing the situation in any way because anything she says next is going to be quite substantial.
She has denied having an affair with her legislative staffer Graham Kelly, something that is considered an ethics violation. An investigation is still ongoing on the matter.
Her estranged husband, Kenny Heslep, said on Facebook that Hill and Kelly did have an affair, and that is one of the reasons behind the divorce.
Hill did admit that she was involved with a campaign staffer, 24-year-old Morgan Desjardins, and this is not a violation of House rules.
Hill, Desjardins, and Heslep were reportedly a “throuple” (ménage à trois) for more than three years. Leaked text messages showed that the breakup was hard on Desjardins who did not see it coming. Hill ended the “throupling” experience fourth months after arriving in the nation’s capitol.
Republican rivals — Angela Underwood Jacobs and Mike Garcia — are attacking Hill over the leaked photo from the national security angle — she could have been subject to blackmail.
Not many Democrats in high places have offered public support to the embattled congresswoman. However, supporters in her district still have her back although her critics say she is a bad example for children.
