Rep. Katie Hill was once considered a rising star in the Democratic Party who quickly earned a leadership position after her election in 2018. But a little over a week after allegations surfaced of an improper sexual relationship with a subordinate, the California Democrat offered her resignation from Congress.

Yet some Democrats don't believe a resignation was warranted and are alarmed that the unusual circumstances involved in it could unwittingly set a dangerous precedent going forward.

Last week, the House Ethics Committee opened an investigation into allegations that Hill had a sexual relationship with her congressional staffer. Hill has vigorously denied the allegation but has admitted to an "inappropriate relationship" with a campaign staffer when running for the House in 2018.

Relationships between lawmakers and subordinates are a violation of House rules that were adopted in 2018 in the wake of the #MeToo movement. A number of male lawmakers in Congress have resigned over the past few years for allegations for sexual harassment, assault or misconduct.

Democratic strategists noted that leadership and rank-and-file members weren't calling for her resignation and the decision appeared to be made on her own terms. But when Hill offered her resignation, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California accepted it. She praised Hill for making a "great contribution as leader of the Freshman Class," but went on to say that her "acknowledged errors of judgment" made it extremely difficult for her to continue serving in Congress.

"She has acknowledged errors in judgment that made her continued service as a member untenable," Pelosi said in a Sunday statement. "We must ensure a climate of integrity and dignity in the Congress, and in all workplaces."

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Hill's swift departure comes as Democrats seek to show that they're serious about dealing with claims of improper sexual relationships and could risk being a distraction to their work. And the exceedingly rare occurrence of sex allegations involving a female member has raised questions about double standards.

But that has played out against the backdrop of the emergence of compromising photos of the lawmaker, who says she's the victim of "revenge porn" and a "smear campaign" from her estranged husband and "right-wing media." Hill asked the U.S. Capitol Police to investigate who released the photos published by conservative website without her permission.

Her resignation appeared motivated in part by the fear that more sensitive personal information could become public. She has blamed the allegations as well as the publication of photos on her husband, whom she has called "abusive" and is currently divorcing. But she has also acknowledged that she still had a "consensual relationship" with a campaign staffer even though she knew it was "inappropriate."

Hill is vowing to keep fighting against the release of the "illegal" nude photos. In a video posted Monday, she said she didn't want to risk being a distraction "from the constitutional crisis we're faced with and the critical work of my colleagues," indirectly referring to Democrats' impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump.

"So I have to take my personal fight outside the halls of Congress," Hill said. "I will fight to ensure that no one has to live through what I just experienced. I will not allow my experience to scare off other young women or girls from running for office."

Hill's defenders are disappointed by the resignation and believe a double standard is applied unfairly to women. Some Democrats said they believed she would be able to overcome it but remain frustrated that the initial narrative focused more on the salacious details like the photos than how they originated.

"It became about the content of what was leaked and not about the fact that these emails and pictures were leaked. That was the crime," says a Democratic strategist who works on House campaigns. "That's not to say you ignore the component of the allegations made against her, but initially it was so much more about her having an affair rather than someone leaking this to a Republican operative on a Republican website and publishing naked photos."

Democrats acknowledge that there was "appropriate" criticism about her admission that she had an inappropriate relationship during the campaign, but they agree that Hill's downfall is a direct byproduct of her husband.

"The sad reality is if she's trying to take away [her husband's] leverage and is able to do that by not being a public figure, that's what is incredibly disappointing to be put in this position," says a national Democratic consultant. "Some by her own choices, but more than that by the situation she found herself in."

When it comes to sexual misconduct, Democrats feel like they are the party of accountability, though they say that it appeared to be Hill's decision to leave.

"You can't operate on moral high ground if you don't occupy a moral high ground," the Democratic consultant says. "But it also leaves a clear impression for voters of which party is handling this issue in the right way."

But some Democrats argue Hill's situation didn't rise to the same level of allegations that other lawmakers have been faced with in the #MeToo era. They say Hill was following the "right protocol" when she cooperated with the Ethics Committee investigation. And some strategists fear the implications for future lawmakers in an age where cyber exploitation is much more pervasive.

"If this is a precedent we're setting, I think it's a really bad precedent," the House Democratic strategist says. "Whether a male or female member of Congress, there were no allegations of harassment or assault."

Hill had even earned support from a Republican colleague who believed she was unfairly targeted because of her sexual orientation. She was one of the first openly bisexual members elected to the House.

Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Florida Republican who is a staunch supporter of the president, came to the defense of his House Armed Services Committee colleague last week. He argued that Hill was being investigated not because she "hurt anyone" but "because she is different."

Nearly a year ago, Hill was heralded as a top recruit for Democrats, flipping a long-held Republican seat and helping the party take back the House along with a record number of female candidates.

While Hill won her Los Angeles County seat by 9 points, Republicans were already targeting her seat as they look to make gains in California after major losses in the midterms and seek to regain the majority.