Who hacked Katie Hill's Twitter? Former staff alleges 'workplace abuse' and says she's 'not a hero'
Former Congresswoman Katie Hill's life is all set to be splashed on the silver screen as Elisabeth Moss has signed on a streaming film adaptation of her book 'She Will Rise: Becoming a Warrior in the Battle for True Equality'. Born as Katherine Lauren Hill in Abilene, Texas, she was raised in Santa Clarita, California, by her local nurse mother and police lieutenant father.
After her graduation from California State University, she kicked off her career as a policy advocate at a non-profit organization named People Assisting the Homeless (PATH). A member of the Democratic Party, she won her seat by defeating incumbent Republican Steve Knight in the 2018 midterm elections and thereafter served as the US Representative for California's 25th congressional district from January to November 2019.
Blumhouse TV preemptively optioned her book, where Hill recounts her experience as a young woman with no prior political experience and opens up about the cycle of domestic abuse she was trapped in at home, the infamous release of nude photos and her own personal mistakes that led to her fall from grace, Amid the news of her biopic, her Twitter account seemed to tell a different story. Was her Twitter handle hacked?
"Katie’s former staff here. Disappointed in so many folks - including Elizabeth Moss, @Blumhouse, & @michaelseitzman - regarding today's announcement," the tweet thread began. It then spiraled into a series of serious workplace abuse allegations: "This is an incredibly sensitive situation. We appreciate the instinct to defend our former boss, an LGBTQ+ woman who faced abuse from her husband. What happened to Katie Hill shouldn't happen to anyone. But, this moment requires more nuance, as Katie Hill’s story - our story - is also one of workplace abuse and harassment."
"Katie Hill can be both a victim and perpetrator. And, staff can experience severe consequences for speaking out against their powerful boss," the alleged staff member said. "No one should have to put themselves in harm’s way for the public to understand a simple truth: Katie Hill is not a hero for women. We deserve heroes who embody our values even in the most difficult moments."
The Twitter thread went on: "Katie Hill was never investigated by the House Ethics Committee nor has she been held accountable by anyone other than herself. We encourage everyone to reflect deeply before taking her word at face value. Katie took advantage of her subordinates. She caused immense harm to the people who worked for her, many of whom were young women just beginning their careers in politics."
"Workplace abuse and harassment can take many different forms, but one thing is certain: it is never okay, even if your boss is a woman and/or a survivor," one tweet read, adding, "Believe us when we say: it’s not only about who starts it, it’s also about who ends it. And, while Katie is certainly the survivor of abuse, we are not confident that she sufficiently acted to end her own patterns of inappropriate and abusive behavior. Enough is enough. In order to advance the #MeToo movement, we must be willing to acknowledge the problematic behaviors among those in our own communities. Only then will we see true progress. #TimesUp #MeToo."
Katie’s former staff here. Disappointed in so many folks - including Elizabeth Moss, @Blumhouse, & @michaelseitzman - regarding today's announcement.
— Rep. Katie Hill (@RepKatieHill) October 7, 2020
What happened to Katie Hill shouldn’t happen to anyone. But, this moment requires more nuance, as Katie Hill’s story - our story - is also one of workplace abuse and harassment.
— Rep. Katie Hill (@RepKatieHill) October 7, 2020
No one should have to put themselves in harm’s way for the public to understand a simple truth: Katie Hill is not a hero for women. We deserve heroes who embody our values even in the most difficult moments.
— Rep. Katie Hill (@RepKatieHill) October 7, 2020
Katie took advantage of her subordinates. She caused immense harm to the people who worked for her, many of whom were young women just beginning their careers in politics.
— Rep. Katie Hill (@RepKatieHill) October 7, 2020
Believe us when we say: it’s not only about who starts it, it’s also about who ends it. And, while Katie is certainly the survivor of abuse, we are not confident that she sufficiently acted to end her own patterns of inappropriate and abusive behavior.
— Rep. Katie Hill (@RepKatieHill) October 7, 2020
Enough is enough. In order to advance the #MeToo movement, we must be willing to acknowledge the problematic behaviors among those in our own communities. Only then will we see true progress. #TimesUp #MeToo
— Rep. Katie Hill (@RepKatieHill) October 7, 2020
Hill's life has not been short of controversies. Back in 2018, she admitted to having an "inappropriate" affair with a campaign staffer and dished out a public apology. "I know that even a consensual relationship with a subordinate is inappropriate, but I still allowed it to happen despite my better judgment," Hill wrote. "For that I apologize. I wish nothing but the best for her and hope everyone respects her privacy in this difficult time."
She continued, "I am going through a divorce from an abusive husband who seems determined to try to humiliate me. I am disgusted that my opponents would seek to exploit such a private matter for political gain. This coordinated effort to try to destroy me and the people close to me is despicable and will not succeed. I, like many women who have faced attacks like this before, am stronger than those who want me to be afraid." Later, her nude photos were published by the Daily Mail after her estranged husband sent those in an act of revenge porn.
No sooner were the tweets posted, they sparked way too much shock and distress. New York Times national political reporter Shane Goldmacher said, "Katie Hill's former staff have taken over her former congressional Twitter account with a thread..." Filmmaker and writer Cernovich wrote, "Former Congresswoman Katie Hill 'took advantage of her subordinates. She caused immense harm to the people who worked for her, many of whom were young women just beginning their careers in politics'." Host of #KeepIt podcast Ira Madison III tweeted, "Not Katie Hill leaving her staff with the Twitter password."
Katie Hill's former staff have taken over her former congressional Twitter account with a thread... https://t.co/lmOQqgU5sH
— Shane Goldmacher (@ShaneGoldmacher) October 7, 2020
Former Congresswoman Katie Hill “took advantage of her subordinates. She caused immense harm to the people who worked for her, many of whom were young women just beginning their careers in politics.” pic.twitter.com/B85u1UgqFE
— Cernovich (@Cernovich) October 7, 2020
Not Katie Hill leaving her staff with the Twitter password pic.twitter.com/paBEmYx17R
— Ira Madison III (@ira) October 7, 2020
Soon, Katie Hill confirmed the news and posted, "Thanks to all who let me know my government official twitter account was hacked. Control of my account was immediately handed back to the House Clerk when I resigned, including password changes and access restrictions. God knows who hacked it from there. Reported to @twitter."
Thanks to all who let me know my government official twitter account was hacked. Control of my account was immediately handed back to the House Clerk when I resigned, including password changes and access restrictions. God knows who hacked it from there. Reported to @twitter.
— Katie Hill (@KatieHill4CA) October 7, 2020
As of now, there is no news about who the anonymous poster could have been but we will fill you in with the latest updates as soon as there is any confirmation.
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