FACT BRIEF

Did Katie Hill resign from Congress after the ethics committee launched an investigation into an alleged inappropriate relationship?

Tuesday, June 29, 2021

By Jacob Alabab-Moser

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YES

California Congresswoman Katie Hill announced her resignation on Oct. 27, 2019. On Oct. 23, the House Ethics committee had opened an investigation into an alleged sexual relationship between Hill and someone on her congressional staff.

Around then, news media published revealing photos of Hill, her ex-husband and a female campaign staffer that predated her 2018 election.

In interviews, most recently with “Axios on HBO,” Hill has said she resigned because of the leaking of nude photos of herself. She told Axios she felt “relief” that she “could stop this barrage of a horror show.”

In other interviews, she expressed regret at having an intimate relationship with a staff member and spoke about the harassment faced by her family and staff. She also cited concerns that her scandal would be a liability for the Democratic Party ahead of impeachment proceedings against then-President Donald Trump.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

Sources

US House of Representatives Ethics Committee Statement of chairman and ranking member regarding Rep. Katie Hill

Roll Call House Ethics opens investigation into Rep. Katie Hill over alleged staffer relationship

Axios Katie Hill cites duality in sex-scandal outcomes

Good Morning America (ABC) Former Rep. Katie Hill opens up about her resignation from Congress

Rolling Stone Katie Hill on ‘Useful Idiots’

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