Katie Hill slams 'misogynistic culture' in exit speech

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(SOUNDBITE) (English) DEMOCRATIC REP. KATIE HILL SAYING:

"I am leaving now because of a double standard."

Katie Hill gave her impassioned final speech in Congress Thursday, amid allegations of an affair with a Capitol Hill staff member.

The 32-year-old Democratic speaking publicly for the first time since she announced her resignation on Sunday.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) DEMOCRATIC REP. KATIE HILL SAYING:

"I announced the most difficult decision of my life: that I will be resigning from Congress."

Hill has denied allegations of a sexual relationship with a male staffer in her Congressional office, which would be a violation of House rules.

But she has admitted to having an 'improper' relationship with a female campaign staff member while she was running for office, which does not run afoul of house rules.

And complicating the matter is Hill's claim that her estranged husband assisted in spreading the allegations of sexual misconduct against her, accusing him of aiding in the publication of intimate photos of Hill by conservative media site Red State and the Daily Mail.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) DEMOCRATIC REP. KATIE HILL SAYING:

"I am leaving because of a misogynist culture that gleefully consumed my naked pictures, capitalized on my sexuality and enabled my abusive ex to continue that abuse, this time with the entire country watching."

In her final moments on the House floor, Hill apologized profusely to her supporters for 'errors of judgement.'

But Hill, who is openly bi-sexual, also vowed to fight against cyber exploitation that she believes is focused on damaging progressive women.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) DEMOCRATIC REP. KATIE HILL SAYING:

"But I refuse to let this experience scare off other women who dare to take risks, who dare to step into this light, who dare to be powerful."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi praised Hill as an "outstanding young public servant" and blasted the release of the nude photos.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI SAYING:

"Regardless of any errors in judgment that anyone may have made, it's shameful that she's been exposed to public humiliation by cyber exploitation."

Hill's seat in a district north of Los Angeles is considered one of the most competitive in the country.