Stop Excusing a Disgrace

Last weekend, Democrats were rocked by Congresswoman Katie Hill’s announcement of her resignation from the House of Representatives. Hill, who represents the 25th Congressional District of California largely based in Orange County, was considered by many politically-aware Democrats as a rising star in their party. Hill’s perceived ascendance was partly driven by her age (she’s a Millennial) and partly by her unique identity (she categorizes herself as bisexual).

In connection with her resignation, Rep. Hill has cast herself as the victim in a “revenge porn” case. She is going through an acrimonious divorce with her soon-to-be ex-husband, and she has strongly implied that he released nude photographs of her brushing the hair of a former campaign staffer with whom Hill and her husband had previously been engaged in a “throuple” (a relationship arrangement involving three consenting partners, here two females and a male). Hill’s resignation announcement further makes clear that she perceives herself as the victim of a smear campaign related to the “throuple” undertaken by her spouse; this announcement is linked below.

It is with a broken heart that today I announce my resignation from Congress. This is the hardest thing I have ever had to do, but I believe it is the best thing for my constituents, my community, and our country.

See my official statement below. pic.twitter.com/nG97RQIwvO

— Rep. Katie Hill (@RepKatieHill) October 27, 2019

Rep. Hill, however, does not inform her followers that her resignation was not prompted by the disclosure of nude photographs or the “throuple” (as distasteful as they may be).  It was, in fact, the result of the House Ethics Committee opening an investigation into allegations of her also engaging in a separate affair with a male subordinate, here the Chief of Staff in her Congressional office.  And while Hill denied that affair, reports have surfaced that the evidence of its occurrence was considerable, prompting Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi to request Hill’s departure from Congress.

Hill’s failure to properly attribute the reason for her resignation allows her to propagate a victim narrative (possibly for a future political run) rather than acknowledge her own ethical failing in sleeping with a paid subordinate.  Moreover, her attribution of victimization should hardly be surprising from a person who clearly felt comfortable in wholly discarding normative behavior in both the marital and employment contexts.  And while Hill’s misconduct is hardly unique in the political environment, we can all identify politician after politician for whom a glimpse into controversial sexual conduct revealed misdeeds and corruption in many other categories of life, including those at the core of the public trust provided to them by virtue of their elected office.

While Representative Katie Hill is hardly a lonesome political figure to be felled by a sex/power scandal, it is incumbent on the American voter to start sending messages to the politicians at the center of such behaviors, regardless of party.  Partisanship should not overcome decency.  In fact, it should surprise no one that men and women exceedingly willing to discard decency in their personal lives are also indecent to their political opponents.  To have a better Washington, we must stop excusing … and start defeating … disgraces.  Good riddance to Katie Hill – may it remain permanent.