Despite the fact that Congresswoman Katie Hill (CA), now a falling star in the Democratic Party, was facing an ethics investigation over allegations she had a sexual relationship with a congressional staffer, the liberal media were holding water for her as whined about there being a supposed “double standard” for how she was forced to resign. One anchor even suggested she was a victim.
“Hill blaming a double standard for women, vowing to fight, now for other victims, she says, after images of her private life were made public amid a bitter divorce,” touted ABC World News Tonight anchor David Muir. The on-screen headline for the segment read: “Angry resignation speech. Katie Hill leaves Congress denouncing ‘double standard.’”
ABC correspondent Adrienne Bankert brushed aside the ethics investigation with Hill’s claims of innocence and played five soundbites from Hill’s speech on the House floor. “Hill, who is in the middle of a nasty divorce, has accused her husband of leaking naked pictures of her that were later posted online,” she added.
Bankert concluded by touting how Hill’s last act in Congress was to vote on the impeachment proceedings against President Trump. “As for the ethics investigation into her alleged affair, that will be closed effective tomorrow when she leaves office,” she finally noted.
Meanwhile, on NBC Nightly News, anchor Lester Holt touted the “scathing farewell message today from Congresswoman Katie Hill in her final speech on the House floor. Apologetic for the scandal that led her to resign but highly critical of what she has called the revenge porn in a culture of dirty politics she says she faced.”
NBC correspondent Geoff Bennett also brushed aside the ethics investigation; in favor of decrying “Conservative outlets and tabloids publishing nude pictures of Hill and the campaign staffer online.” His report crammed in seven soundbites of Hill’s bitter ranting.
“Scared and angry about what she sees as a double standard,” he added before also touting how she voted on the impeachment proceedings.
There was a double standard, but not the one Hill and her allies in the liberal media claimed there was. As Daily Caller White House correspondent Amber Athey said on Twitter: “If a male congressman had a sexual relationship with a younger female staffer, he would never be considered a victim and would be instantly labeled a creep, a predator, etc.”
In fact, the liberal media once celebrated the resignation of former Congressman Chris Lee when photos of him were leaked. Back in 2011, NBC correspondent Kelly O’Donnell asserted, “The former Congressman is a former businessman, considered an up and coming conservative.” “This is the image, shirtless and flexing, that tanked the political career of Chris Lee, a conservative, Republican Congressman from Western New York," she added moments later.
Mourning for the resignation of a disgraced Democrat and celebrating the resignation of Republican one. Now that’s a real double standard.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
ABC’s World News Tonight
October 31, 2019
6:43:06 p.m. EasternDAVID MUIR: And tonight, the final speech from Congresswoman Katie Hill, the Democratic rising star who resigned amid an ethics investigation, denying allegations of a relationship with a member of her staff. Hill blaming a double standard for women, vowing to fight, now for other victims, she says, after images of her private life were made public amid a bitter divorce. Here's ABC's Adrienne Bankert tonight.
[Cut to video]
ADRIENNE BANKERT: Congresswoman Katie Hill of California today taking to the House floor for a final speech.
REP. KATIE HILL (D-CA): And to every little girl who looked up to me, I hope one day you can forgive me.
BANKERT: The once rising star in the Democratic Party, stepping down in the wake of an ethics investigation into allegations she had a sexual relationship with a member of her staff. That's a violation of House rules. Hill denies it, but does admit to a sexual relationship with a campaign staffer.
HILL: I am leaving now because of a double standard. I'm leaving because I no longer want to be used as a bargaining chip.
BANKERT: Hill, who is in the middle of a nasty divorce, has accused her husband of leaking naked pictures of her that were later posted online. Her husband hasn't commented. But Katie Hill's own father tells ABC news her resignation is the result of the actions of a wicked man, adding, “evil has many faces and this is one of them.”
HILL: I didn't want to be pedaled by papers and blogs and websites used by shameless operatives for the dirtiest gutter politics that I've ever seen.
BANKERT: And today, hill said she later learned more photos would be released.
HILL: I am leaving because of the thousands of vile threatening emails, calls and texts that made me fear for my life and the lives of the people that I care about.
BANKERT: Hill is now vowing to fight revenge porn.
HILL: I'm leaving, but we have men who have been credibly accused of intentional acts of sexual violence and remain in boardrooms, on the Supreme Court, in this very body, and worst of all, in the Oval Office.
[cuts back to live]
BANKERT: And David, in her last act as a congresswoman, Katie hill cast her vote to move forward with proceedings of impeachment against President Donald Trump. She says this is the only investigation that deserves the attention of the entire country. As for the ethics investigation into her alleged affair, that will be closed effective tomorrow when she leaves office. David?
MUIR: Adrienne Bankert live up on the Hill tonight, a very windy night there. Adrienne, thank you.
NBC Nightly News
October 31, 2019
7:05:17 p.m. EasternLESTER HOLT: And a scathing farewell message today from Congresswoman Katie Hill in her final speech on the House floor. Apologetic for the scandal that led her to resign but highly critical of what she has called the revenge porn in a culture of dirty politics she says she faced. Here's Geoff Bennett.
[Cuts to video]
REP. KATIE HILL (D-CA): I wasn't ready for my time here to come to an end so soon.
GEOFF BENNETT: Congresswoman Katie Hill resigning in the face of an investigation stemming from allegations she had an inappropriate sexual relationship with one of her congressional staffers. Hill denies that. But admits to a relationship with a member of her campaign. Calling it “inappropriate” but “consensual.”
HILL: To every little girl who looked up to me, I hope that one day you can forgive me.
BENNETT: Conservative outlets and tabloids publishing nude pictures of Hill and the campaign staffer online.
HILL: The dirtiest gutter politics that I've ever seen.
BENNETT: She blames political operatives and her estranged husband for the leak.
HILL: I'm leaving because of a misogynistic culture that gleefully consumed by naked pictures, capitalized on my sexuality, and enabled by abusive ex to continue that abuse, this time with the entire country watching.
BENNETT: Her ex-husband's attorney did not respond to NBC’s request for comment. Hill said the photos sparked thousands of threatening e-mails, calls, and texts.
HILL: Today is the first time I've left my apartment since the photos, taken without my consent, were released and I'm scared.
BENNETT: Scared and angry about what she sees as a double standard.
HILL: I'm leaving but we have men who have been credibly accused of intentional acts of sexual violence and remain in board rooms on the Supreme Court, in this very body, and worst of all, in the Oval Office.
BENNETT: Hill today casting her final vote in Congress.
HILL: There is only one investigation that deserves the attention of this country. And that's the one that we voted on today. [Transition] As my final act, I voted to move forward with the impeachment of Donald Trump on behalf of the women of the United States of America. We will not stand down. We will not be broken. We will not be silenced.
BENNETT: Jeff Bennett. NBC News, the Capitol.
