Katie Hill attorneys send cease and desist to Daily Mail over nude photos

Attorneys representing freshman Democrat Rep. Katie Hill (Calif.) are demanding the DailyMail remove nude photos purportedly of Hill that her lawyers say were published without Hill’s consent. 

Attorneys from the firm Perkins Coi sent the letter to DailyMail executive editor Candace Trunzo on Thursday, after the DailyMail published the photos in a story, according to a copy of the letter obtained by The Hill. 

“This letter serves as notice that civil and criminal laws prohibit the publication of images of the character you have posted, and that our client is prepared to take all necessary means to protect her rights and to protect herself from an unprecedented, unwarranted and extraordinary offensive invasion of personal privacy,” the lawyers wrote. 

“Without any prejudice to Representative Hill’s rights or remedies, we demand you remove these photos from publication at once.” {mosads}

Trunzo was not immediately available for comment in response to the request. 

The lawyers also argue California law “provides a cause of action against libel” over the DailyMail’s claim that Hill has “Nazi imagery on her body in the form of a tattoo” calling the allegation “false and defamatory.” 

The DailyMail story alleged Hill had a “Nazi-era Iron Cross” tattoo. 

The news organization’s story was published in the wake of allegations that Hill engaged in an improper relationship with her current legislative staffer, which she has denied. The allegations were raised in a story by the conservative publication RedState last week, citing text messages from Hill’s ex-husband, Kenny Heslep.  

The story also alleged Hill was engaged in a relationship with a campaign staffer. Hill admitted to a relationship with the campaign staffer in a statement late Wednesday, apologizing for the “inappropriate” relationship and said she would work with a House Ethics Committee investigation. 

Hill blamed the allegations first published by RedState on her ongoing divorce from an “abusive husband.” 

Her lawyers said the images published by DailyMail “perpetuate the cycle of abuse” Hill endured by publishing the nude photos. 

“Katie Hill, like many women in marriages that end in separation, endured years of emotional abuse from a now-estranged husband. After she faced an onslaught of vindictive, malicious and invasive attacks in the past week, your publication asked her this morning ‘[i]f you wish to comment’ on DailyMail.com’s professed intention to distribute lewd images of her, of unknown and unverified provenance,” they wrote. “By spreading these purported claims, and dehumanizing and shaming images across the globe, you have perpetuated the cycle of abuse Representative Hill has endured.”