Republicans air revenge porn against Democratic congresswoman, and she's the one in trouble

Rep. Katie Hill

A nude photo of a member of Congress—naturally, a young woman—was published on a right-wing website as she’s in the middle of a divorce from a husband she says is abusive. What’s the story, according to Beltway publications like Politico and Roll Call? That the lawmaker “denies improper relationship with aide,” because in addition to publishing an illicitly acquired nude photo, RedState accused her of an affair with a congressional aide. Rep. Katie Hill now faces a House Ethics Committee investigation over those claims, since members of Congress are not allowed to have sexual relationships with staff. Again, Hill has denied those claims, though she admitted an earlier relationship with a campaign staffer.

But what we have to focus on is the way this story came out: as part of a revenge porn package, complete with nude photo, from RedState while Hill is in the middle of a divorce from a husband who, let’s be real, probably leaked this stuff. That’s vile—and, in many places, criminal—and the media has to make that clear in its reporting, with a finger pointed squarely at RedState.

Any rumors being spread along with the photo should be a side note to the story of how disgusting it is that a well-known website that’s frequently treated as respectable would publish such a photo, along with personal text messages. As actor Jennifer Lawrence said after a hacker leaked nude photos of her, “It is not a scandal. It is a sex crime. It is a sexual violation. It’s disgusting.”

Capitol police "are investigating the situation and potential legal violations of those who posted and distributed the photos,” Hill said in a statement.