Rep Katie Porter “is an angry boss who racially abused employees,” says veteran Sasha Georgiades

Rep. Katie Porter, who this week announced her candidacy to be one of California’s two senators in 2024, has been described as an “angry boss” who has “racially abused employees” and covered up sexual harassment.

Additionally, Porter has been criticized for firing a staffer, Sasha Georgiades, who is also a veteran and domestic violence survivor, for giving her Covid-19 in August 2022.

Porter announced her candidacy, though longtime California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, 89, has not announced her resignation.

In an interview with the National Review this week, Georgiades said she felt Porter was in politics for “fame,” “power,” and “himself.”

Porter made headlines last week while reading the book The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k in Congress amid the excitement surrounding the speaker’s election.

In December, Dear White Staffers, a popular social media account for insider political gossip, shared a text exchange between Porter and a staffer with the caption, “VIBE CHECK: Rep. Katie Porter fires staff after both test positive for COVID. Full texts of the congressmen firing the employee via text message. Shared with the employee’s permission.’

Porter, D-Calif., shows Rep. Sean Casten, D-Ill., her book during the 15th vote to elect a Speaker of the House on January 7th

Porter has been criticized for firing a staffer, Sasha Georgiades, who is also a domestic violence veteran and survivor, for giving her Covid-19 in August 2022

In the Dear White Staffers comments section, other anonymous staffers voiced their grievances against Porter. One wrote that they suffered “several panic attacks” while working for the congresswoman.

Another said Porter was known for losing her temper with employees during fundraising calls.

While another said that Porter “is prone to tantrums, routinely belittles anyone who even slightly disagrees with her or displeases her, and is incredibly arrogant, mean-spirited and petty.”

Georgiades told the National Review this week: “I think she likes the attention. I think she likes being a household name and being a Democrat darling.

She added, “I think fame and power can take someone in a direction that maybe they haven’t gone before. I think it’s less and less about her actually helping and more and more about her ego.”

In response to the interview, a member of Porter’s team dismissed claims that she was racist or prone to tantrums. While several employees spoke enthusiastically about working with Porter.

One, a combat veteran named Gage Sitzmann, described the liberal activist as “a phenomenal mentor” and “the smartest boss I’ve ever had.”

Porter was asked about the allegations in an interview with Pod Save America that was taped Thursday.

She said: “I’m sorry if this staff member is upset. I expect people to work hard. I work hard and I think that’s what the American people should expect.’

Leaked screenshots of text messages between Porter and former staffer Georgiades, with the congresswoman telling the veteran, “You gave me Covid,” not acknowledging the staffer’s apology or explanation that she wasn’t tested for the virus because she was busy with the death of a friend.

The text exchange took place in July, and Porter’s office said the staffer was working on a two-year fellowship at the time, which had long been due to end in August. Georgiades also confirmed to Politico that she was not fired but had planned to leave.

“Congresswoman Porter informed her that she would be working from home for the remaining three weeks of her scholarship,” Porter spokesman Jordan Wong told DailyMail.com last month.

“Why didn’t you follow office protocol when testing? It’s really disappointing,” Porter said in July. ‘I’m very sorry. You’re right, I should have done better. Just because I felt okay at the moment doesn’t mean I was,” the employee wrote back.

“Sasha – I can’t let you back into the office as you’re not following office policy. Cody will be in touch to have (sic) your personal items shipped or delivered to your home and will set out your remote work schedule and responsibilities for the final few weeks,” Porter said.

Georgiades went on to thank Porter, telling her: “I hate disappointing you in this way as I know that’s no excuse for finding out a friend was murdered by the Navy and my head isn’t in.” that was the right place. Not an apology but justification for the lack of foresight. I appreciate everything this office has done for me.’

Porter fired back: “Well you gave me Covid. In 25 months you broke the rules to make me sick. My children have no one to take care of them.’

Georgiades was a Wounded Warrior Fellow who worked in Porter’s office as a liaison for veterans and service members. In 2019, Georgiades wrote a harrowing account of the 2009 rape she suffered at the hands of a former boyfriend.

She said she held a Facebook Live event with Porter and tested positive shortly after. Porter texted her after notifying the office about the test, and “from that point on, she never said a word to me.”

Shortly thereafter, an ally of Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff, who is also scheduled to run, told NBC News it was an “incredible mistake” to announce a run this week as California was hit by storms and massive flooding.

Earlier this week, in a video posted to Twitter, Porter announced that she was seeking the Senate seat, arguing that “California needs a warrior in the Senate.”

Shortly thereafter, an ally of Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff, who is also scheduled to run, told NBC News it was an “incredible mistake” to announce a run this week as California was hit by storms and massive flooding.

We are not playing politics in the midst of a natural disaster that has claimed lives,” the Schiff insider said.

Schiff said Tuesday he spent the day on the phone with mayors, borough leaders and the governor.

“We get hit by these storms,” ​​he told NBC. “I’ve spoken to the FEMA Regional Administrator about bringing relief to Californians and that’s my priority, my focus. And I think that’s what we should all focus on now.

Rep. Ro Khanna, who represents Sen. Bernie Sanders’ wing of the Democratic Party, told the network he would make a decision on a Senate nomination in the next few months.