Ex-Democratic Congresswoman Sues Husband For Releasing 'Nonconsensual Porn'

Former Democratic congresswoman Katie Hill on Tuesday sued her ex-husband and the owners of the Daily Mail and conservative blog RedState for distributing “nonconsensual porn.”

The 41-page lawsuit, which was filed in Los Angeles, came two weeks after a judge granted the former California representative a temporary restraining order directing her ex-husband, Kenny Heslep, to stay 100 yards away from Hill, her relatives and pets.

In seeking the order, Hill said her ex-husband choked her unconscious and threatened her with firearms throughout their 15-year relationship. She also accused him of abusing her pets and releasing intimate photos of her.

Three days after the restraining order was approved, the Daily Mail published a nude photo of the former congresswoman that had been taken by Heslep.

Hill will seek damages for emotional distress and violation of state law for distributing personal materials without her consent. She named Salem Media Group Inc., Mail Media Inc., Jennifer Van Laar and Joseph Messina as defendants.

“All Defendants knew or should have known that Hill had a reasonable expectation that the material would remain private,” Hill’s suit read.

In 2019, Hill resigned from Congress after Heslep allegedly released private details to publications as “a revenge vendetta.” The intimate personal material included nude photos, text messages and stories about her personal life.

“It is with a broken heart that today I announce my resignation from Congress,” Hill wrote in a letter. “This is the hardest thing I have ever had to do, but I believe it is the best thing for my constituents, my community and our country.”

“This is what needs to happen so that the good people who supported me will no longer be subjected to the pain inflicted by my abusive husband and the brutality of hateful political operatives who seem to happily provide a platform to a monster who is driving a smear campaign built around cyber exploitation,” she added.

The publication of nude photos and stories came amid an investigation by the House Ethics Committee for allegations that she was involved in an inappropriate sexual relationship with a male staffer. She denied the claim but admitted to having an “inappropriate” relationship with a female campaign staffer.