Congresswoman Katie Hill is feeling the effects of the “Freshman Fifteen.” But instead of pounds, it’s minutes of infamy. Her recent divorce has unleashed information about an alleged multi-year affair between her husband, herself, and a campaign staffer. Now the House Ethics committee is investigating Congresswoman Hill for another alleged affair with a staff subordinate. But don’t blame Katie, it’s all happening because she’s a woman.

Congresswoman Katie Hill is being investigated by the Ethics committee for reportedly having a relationship with her male Legislative Director. Not for the one with the campaign staffer, who allegedly functioned as a girlfriend for both Katie and her husband. The Ethics investigation arises from her husband’s accusation that she’s committing adultery with Mr. Graham Kelly, her Legislative Director. This story has all the makings of a juicy made for “Skinamax” movie. And that’s before reading the story, complete with photographs of a naked Mrs. Kelly in a chair while her younger female campaign staffer sits at her feet.

So far the response from the left has been a collective yawn. Of course, imagine if a congressMAN was in the same position? A Republican? The demands for his resignation would be blaring on cable news. TIME would run a cover with the “Brave” campaign staffer. Meanwhile the congressman would be briefly investigated and quickly run out of DC. Now, add in that his wife was participating in the affair, and they shared the girlfriend. Would people dismiss it out of hand because everyone consented to the relationship? I assure you, no. The impending investigation into sex with a subordinate would be docket item #1 on the House agenda.

Katie Hill is the best example of female privilege that we've seen in a while. The creep can literally (and figuratively) groom her staff while naked and the media doesn't care. If a man did that, he'd be run out of town as a pervert. — Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) October 23, 2019

Playing the Woman Card

Congresswoman Hill is not denying the multi-year long affair between the young staffer, herself, and her husband. But she is accusing her husband of “revenge porn”, for releasing the photographs of her in Primal Grooming mode, comfortably naked while brushing the hair of the fully clothed staffer…. (I’m sorry y’all… uhhh. Wow, that’s just strange). But, of course, the congresswoman is focusing on the fact that she’s suffering at the hands of a reportedly abusive soon to be ex-husband. She’s using this opportunity be victorious through victimhood. Like a kittenish meow blossoming into a lioness roar (maybe there is something to this primal grooming…). She writes in a response to Politico

“The fact is I am going through a divorce from an abusive husband who seems determined to try to humiliate me … I, like many women who have faced attacks like this before, am stronger than those who want me to be afraid.”

While the accusations made about the campaign staffer are confirmed, the one about the Legislative Director is denied. The accusation of “abusive” against her husband is completely unsupported at this time. However, the former campaign worker/girlfriend did have a text conversation with Hill’s husband, Kenny Heslep, about the “toxic” and “abusive” relationship between them. via RedState,

Heslep wrote: “I mean it, though, man. It has been weighing very, very heavily on me lately. Part of my mind keeps trying to justify it because of katies abuse. That she created the ‘s**t rolls downhill’ situation. But that is no excuse whatsoever for what I did. So again, I’m sorry.” The staffer replies: “It was a dark time and you treated me really poorly but I also stayed which I have to own.” Heslep assures her she doesn’t need to take full responsibility: “Don’t take full responsibility for staying with people that are abusing you. That is basically victim blaming, and none of it was your fault. I’m sorry for how bad it got.”

The Investigation Into Her Current Staff

Clearly, there’s a lot to unpack in this situation. But the crux of the Ethics investigation isn’t even about the relationship with the campaign staffer. The investigation is about her implied relationship with a current staffer, the Legislative Director.

It may be genetic, but the Trump’s have troll level: “Master” unlocked:

https://twitter.com/DonaldJTrumpJr/status/1187190452799397888?s=20

A member of congress admits to a prior relationship with campaign staffer, and is accused of a relationship with a current Congressional (paid) staffer. The rules should be the rules, regardless of gender or sexual orientation of the parties involved. A sitting member of Congress is a named party to violating the rules in Congress. The investigation should take place with no added context. A person in a position of authority has a history of affairs with subordinates. Is it realistic they are repeating a pattern?

This isn’t an investigation because she’s a woman. It’s because she’s in a position of authority and power over the other parties. From the Washington Examiner,

The bipartisan 10-member ethics panel issued a brief statement Wednesday night announcing their investigation, stating it is “aware of public allegations that Representative Katie Hill may have engaged in a sexual relationship with an individual on her congressional staff, in violation of House Rule XXIII, clause 18(a).”

Private companies, and even the military recognizes that the power shift between supervisors and subordinates muddles the ability to give clear consent. The onus is on the more senior person to behave responsibly, and follow the rules. As a member of Congress, Ms. Hill is that senior person, and should be held to the highest standard. If that means they find her guilty of ethics violations and run her out of town, so be it.

Oh, wait. She’s a Democrat. They will probably issue her a new deck of victim cards.

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