Katie Hill claims hackers used government account to accuse her of ‘workplace abuse’

Former Rep. Katie Hill (D-Calif.) on Wednesday claimed that hackers were responsible for a thread of tweets posted on her congressional Twitter account accusing her of abusing staff members, particularly young women.

A thread posted on Hill’s congressional account just before 1 a.m. Eastern time, purporting to be authored by her former congressional staffers, depicted the congresswoman as being both a victim of her own abusive ex-husband as well as a perpetrator of “workplace abuse and harassment.”

“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,” the thread reads.

“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,” it continued, adding, “[W]hile 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.”

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

The thread appeared to come in response to an announcement by the production studio Blumhouse Television indicating that it would produce a streaming TV series based on Hill’s forthcoming memoir, “She Will Rise,” in which Hill is set to be played by actress Elisabeth Moss.

“Disappointed in so many folks – including Elizabeth Moss, @Blumhouse, & @michaelseitzman- regarding today’s announcement,” the first tweet in the series read.

In a tweet from her personal account, Hill responded, claiming that the posts on her congressional account were a result of hackers who had seized control of the account after it was handed over to the House clerk’s office following her resignation last year. Hill resigned amid a House Ethics Committee probe into allegations that she had pursued inappropriate sexual relationships with staffers in her congressional office.

“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,” she tweeted.

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

Hill’s resignation was viewed as widely controversial last year due to the circumstances in which the allegations against her surfaced; nude photos of Hill appearing to be engaged in sexual acts with a female staffer were posted online by Hill’s ex-husband, who filed for divorce and has been the subject of Hill’s own allegations of abuse.

She denied the allegations at the time but admitted to a relationship with a campaign staffer, which is not barred by House rules.

“Having private photos of personal moments weaponized against me has been an appalling invasion of my privacy. It’s also illegal. And we are currently pursuing all of our available legal options,” Hill said at the time.