Rep. Katie Hill revealed that the nude pictures that leaked of her were taken without her knowledge nor her consent.
Hill gave her final floor speech as a House member Thursday, which served as an apology and an assault on the ‘double standard’ that she said fueled her downfall.
‘I will never shirk my responsibility for this sudden ending to my time here, but I have to say this is bigger than me,’ she said. ‘I am leaving now because of a double standard. I am leaving because I no longer want to be used as a bargaining chip.’
‘I am leaving because I didn’t want to be peddled by papers and blogs and websites used by shameless operatives for the dirtiest gutter politics that I’ve ever seen,’ she continued.
‘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,’ she added.
Rep. Katie Hill gave her goodbye speech on the House floor Thursday, calling out the ‘double standard’ that women face suggesting it’s unfair for her to be leaving Congress while President Trump, accused of sexual assault, remains in the White House
Rep. Katie Hill (in red) approaches the rostrum to ask for permission to speak on the House floor, doing it the last time as a member of Congress
Hill said the double standard made it so she, a woman, couldn’t remain in Congress and yet President Trump, a man who ‘brags about his sexual predation’ stays.
‘Today as my final act I voted to move forward on the impeachment of Donald Trump on behalf of the women of the United States of America,’ Hill said.
On Thursday, Hill positioned herself near the back of the House chamber during a series of impeachment-related votes, casting a ‘yes’ on opening the inquiry in her final hours serving in Congress.
A number of Democratic lawmakers approached the 32-year-old Hill, who is resigning over inappropriate relationships, and gave her hugs.
Hill was given a special speaking slot where she could take as much time as an hour.
She, however, had to wait for the Republicans to go first – meaning she sat in the chamber as Rep. Louie Gohmert droned on.
About halfway through his speech, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez came into the chamber and took a seat next to Hill.
AOC stayed about 15 minutes as Gohmert kept going and then hugged Hill as she got up to leave. Other freshman lawmakers – Reps. Lori Trahan and Joe Neguse – also came into the chamber to keep Hill company as she waited her turn.
Rep. Katie Hill put out a video Monday explaining why she decided to resign from Congress. She tweeted Sunday that she planned to quit
Rep. Katie Hill (left) arrives on Capitol Hill Thursday, in advance of her goodbye address to Congress
Later ‘squad’ members Ilhan Omar and Ayanna Pressley came in to watch Hill speak and delivered her hugs after she wrapped up.
DailyMail.com obtained photographs of Hill, naked, smoking a bong. Photos also showed her kissing Morgan Desjardins, a 24-year-old campaign aide who was involved in a ‘throuple’ relationship with Hill and her now estranged husband Kenny Heslep.
Hill was also accused of having an affair with her legislative director Graham Kelly, which would go against House ethics rules.
Hill denied this relationship.
The House Ethics Committee opened an investigation into the allegations prompting Hill to announce Sunday that she would resign.
Rep. Katie Hill (left) admitted to being in an inappropriate relationship with her female campaign staffer Morgan Desjardins (center) while she was still with her husband Kenny Heslep (right)
Rep. Katie Hill (left) was also accused of having an affair with her legislative director Graham Kelly (right), which would be more problematic as members of Congress are barred from having sexual relationships with staff
Rep. Katie Hill (right) is photographed with her campaign aide Morgan Desjardins (right). Hill admitted to being in a ‘throuple’ with Desjardins
Rep. Katie Hill (center right) has blamed her husband Kenny Heslep (right) for the photo leak. He filed for divorce from Hill in July
RedState first reported on Hill’s two alleged relationships with staff, in a report that included the California Democrat nude brushing Desjardins hair.
On Monday Hill released a video where she blamed her ‘abusive husband’ for releasing the images and the ‘right-wing media’ for spreading them.
‘This coordinated campaign carried out by the right-wing media and Republican opponents, enabling and perpetuating my husband’s abuse by providing him a platform is disgusting and unforgivable,’ she said.
‘I will not allow my experience to scare off other young women or girls for running for office. For the sake of all of us we cannot let that happen,’ Hill continued.
‘I’m hurt. I’m angry. The path I saw so clearly for myself is no longer there,’ the congresswoman added. ‘I never claimed to be perfect, but I never thought my imperfections would be weaponized and used to try and destroy me and the community I have loved for my entire life. For that, I am so incredibly sorry.