Freshman Rep. Katie Hill is resigning amid an ethics investigation over an allegedly inappropriate relationship with a staffer.
In a letter posted on Twitter, the Southern California Democrat attributed the resignation to an "abusive" estranged husband and "hateful political operatives" who she said were "driving a smear campaign built around cyber exploitation."
Her resignation was first reported by Politico.
The House Ethics Committee investigation of Hill, who was elected in last year's mid-terms, began after the conservative site Red State reported unconfirmed allegations about her personal life and posted a photo of her that it labeled “explicit.”
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She described the image as an "illegal" and "appalling invasion of privacy" that had been "weaponized" against her.
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Hill last week apologized after admitting that she had a relationship with someone on her campaign. She denied that she'd had an affair with a staff member while in office.Zach Gibson / Getty Images"We are currently pursuing all of our available legal options," she said. "However, I know that as long as I am in Congress, we'll live fearful of what might come next."
She added that she could no longer allow friends and supporters to "suffer this unprecedented brand of cruelty."
Hill’s estranged husband, Kenny Heslep, couldn ..
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