People, man. Politicians, specifically. I don’t get ’em. Not all of them. Not all the time.
Congresswoman Katie Hill, who represents California’s District 25 — which is well north of San Diego County — is resigning her seat this week after nude pictures of the Democrat were published online and allegations of an improper relationship with a former campaign staff member.
Meanwhile, in the east part of our county, Republican Congressman Duncan Hunter was last year indicted by the federal government and has a trial set for January 2020, where prosecutors hope to prove he misused hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign money to pay for family vacations, shorts and video games. It’s also been alleged he spent some of that money on intimate meetings with women who were not his wife.
He was re-elected, even after he was busted by the local Attorney General’s Office.
He is still in office. And is running again despite the looming trial.
An ethics committee is investigating the relationship Hill had with a subordinate. As of now it appears she has done nothing illegal, though the investigation as of yet has not been completed.
But Hill has stated she is leaving the office because she wants to avoid the further embarrassment and shame that is associated with having naked pictures of her floating around in the Internet. The photos were reportedly released to third parties by her ex-husband. Some call it revenge porn. If true that makes her a victim.
And yet Hunter, who was investigated by law enforcement professionals, has portrayed himself as the victim of a witch hunt, and blames his wife for the spending sprees at taxpayer expense. The son of a former congressman who is a congressman himself wants us to think of him as a victim.
Interesting.
In this new enlightened climate the rules of conduct between people have changed significantly and for the better.
In addressing decades of misogyny and harassment we are writing new guidelines about what constitutes harassment in the workplace.
If Hill broke any laws or rules then it would be reasonable to expect her to be reprimanded and or resign. People elected to office and to lead must be held to a higher standard. That’s the price of leadership that is courted.
Hill seems to have preemptively punished herself. Hunter, on the other hand, is waiting to see where the cards will fall.
In my courtroom of public opinion it looks like the wrong representative is leaving their post.
But that’s what real courts and trials are for, so that the truth can hopefully be sorted and justice eventually prevail.
