Samantha Bee uses Rep. Katie Hill's resignation to tackle the complicated scourge of 'revenge porn'
First-term Rep. Katie Hill (D-Calif.) will give her final floor speech on Thursday and resign on Friday after she acknowledged an inappropriate relationship with a campaign staffer but denied allegations about a sexual relationship with a congressional aide. Her departure may raise issues about double standards for male and female politicians. But "Hill's resignation is the right thing to do — you should not have sex with the people who work for you," Samantha Bee said on Wednesday's Full Frontal, making one exception for Capt. Von Trapp of Sound of Music fame.
"So yes, Katie Hill is making the right call, but she herself is a victim of something that is disturbing and wrong," revenge porn, Bee said. "Hill says her private photos were leaked, without her consent, by her estranged husband, and published by RedState and the Daily Mail, two of the vilest, nastiest things to exist on the internet. ... Revenge porn weaponizes people's sexuality against them, and it doesn't just hurt people living public lives — 12 percent of Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 have had intimate photos shared without their consent."
"The issue isn't with people taking nude pictures, the issue is with the people who share them without consent," Bee said. Almost every state — 46 of 50 — has a revenge porn law. "But those laws don't always go far enough," some requiring the victim to prove malicious intent, while in Arizona, for example, they "went way too far," she explained. "No one is saying this is easy to get right," though Illinois hit the sweet spot by focusing on consent, not motivation. But Bee saw hope for a federal law, too, because "if there's one politician who definitely has intimate recordings he doesn't want to get leaked," it's the guy who would sign the legislation. Watch below. Peter Weber
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Quiz of The Week: 16 - 22 November
Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By The Week Staff Published
-
The week's best photos
In Pictures Firing shells, burning ballots, and more
By Anahi Valenzuela, The Week US Published
-
Damian Barr shares his favourite books
The Week Recommends The writer and broadcaster picks works by Alice Walker, Elif Shafak and others
By The Week UK Published
-
Quincy Jones, music icon, is dead at 91
Speed Read The legendary producer is perhaps best known as the architect behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76
Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproar
Speed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain Prize
Speed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is Downton Abbey set to return for a final film?
Speed Read Imelda Staunton reveals that a third movie may be in the pipeline
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 wins
speed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Rust' armorer convicted of manslaughter
speed read The film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin during rehearsal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Beatles are getting 4 intersecting biopics
Speed Read Director Sam Mendes is making four separate movies, each told from the perspective of one band member
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published