Democrat Rep. Katie Porter, who has previously been called out for abusive behavior, is now facing accusations from her own ex-husband, Matthew Hoffman, that she’s an abusive monster.
The accusations stem from a decades-old divorce filing that was obtained this week by the Daily Mail and following an announcement that Porter is pursuing outgoing Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s coveted California seat.
“On March 20, 2013, Porter and then-husband Matthew Hoffman filed for divorce but decided they would continue to live in the same home for the sake of their three children,” the Daily Mail reported this Wednesday.
“But from there, the relationship deteriorated – with Porter and Hoffman filing restraining orders against each other and alleging abuse. Old incidents came to light in [the] divorce filings, with Hoffman alleging Porter dumped a bowl of steaming hot boiled potatoes on his head,” the outlet added.
The potatoes incident reportedly happened in 2006, when Porter entered the kitchen as Hoffman was making mashed potatoes for dinner. Porter allegedly yelled, “Can’t you read the f–king instructions” and then dumped the bowl of scalding hot potatoes on his head, burning his scalp.
Ex-staffer accuses Dem rep of racism, belittling sexual harassment reporters, mocking COVID deaths https://t.co/Idv1Fo7QBa pic.twitter.com/hVqnrMK3ag
— Conservative News (@BIZPACReview) December 31, 2022
According to Hoffman, Porter was prone to “extreme anger” and had a “history of snapping and screaming at [him] and the children,” and would “claw and scratch her arms” while blaming him for the markings.
Moreover, Porter allegedly frequently made disparaging remarks, calling him “f–king incompetent” and a “f–king idiot.”
One time, the congresswoman allegedly refused to let him have a cell phone on the basis that “you’re too f–king dumb to operate it.”
Another time, Porter returned home from work one day enraged that their home evidently wasn’t clean. She was so angry that she allegedly slammed a glass pot on the counter, causing shards to spray everywhere and cut Hoffman.
“This house is a mess! You f–king slob! You’re incompetent! What the f–k do you do all day!” she allegedly screamed at him as their kids were nearby.
On another occasion, Porter reportedly entered the kitchen as Hoffman was making Jell-O with their children and started ranting at him.
“Are you so f–king stupid you can’t make Jello? How f–king dumb are you!” she allegedly said while repeatedly calling him useless.
Perhaps the most disturbing allegation involves their son, Paul, who was allegedly 2-1/2 at the time.
“Hoffman alleged their middle son Paul … was ‘very excited to have a baby sister’ and was talking to Porter about it. Hoffman said Porter stood over Paul and screamed, ‘Get out of my face and leave me alone!'” according to the Daily Mail.
“Hoffman said he rushed in, and Porter struck him in the face and said, ‘Why can’t you keep them away from me?'” the Daily Mail reported.
When confronted by the allegations this week, Porter claimed to Fox News that her ex-husband has since “retracted” his allegations.
But when contacted by Fox News, Hoffman said he has “not recant” any allegation.
“I do not recant the allegations,” he said.
These allegations fit in with what else has been reported about Porter. As previously noted, she has a sordid history of nasty, nasty, nasty behavior.
Democrat Rep with a notoriously nasty reputation messes with the WRONG staffer https://t.co/19rIip2azS pic.twitter.com/AboeW9FBba
— Conservative News (@BIZPACReview) December 30, 2022
Indeed, allegedly over the years, she’s repeatedly gotten away with treating her own staffers like pure dirt. U.S. Navy veteran Sasha Georgiades, a former Wounded Warrior Fellow with Porter’s office, would know.
Speaking with Fox News in December, she said that while she worked for Porter, the Democrat congresswoman had a habit of making rude, racist, and disrespectful remarks to staffers.
For instance, she sometimes allegedly used racial slurs. Other times, she “ridiculed people for reporting sexual harassment” and “made fun of individuals whose parents passed away from COVID.”
One time, when someone reported sexual harassment to Porter, she “basically told the individual to grow up,” Georgiades told Fox News.
She isn’t the only one who’s spoken out about Porter, though she’s the only one who’s done so openly — i.e., not anonymously.
That said, late last year several alleged Porter staffers sent direct messages to a Twitter account called “Dear White Staffers” purporting to describe other examples of Porter’s lousy behavior.
“Widely known across the party/consultants that Katie Porter is abusive. Unable to cope with basic demands of being a member so she takes it out staff. Says rude/racist things (anti-black esp) and tries to mask it as edgy humor. Thinks she knows better and talks sh-t about other members, leadership, staffers, local electeds, etc at full volume, in public and to literally any1 who will listen,” one direct message reads.
“Completely disinterested in repping OC [Orange County] and just waiting to go statewide or national. From what ive seen only ppl that survive are super fans that participate in or overlook the abuse. Has gone thru staff rosters several times over. Give it time and will rank among the legendary toxic offices,” it continues.
— Dear White Staffers (@DWS________) December 30, 2022
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
V. Saxena is a staff writer with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University. Saxena also contributes to BizPac Review.
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