Ex-rep. Katie Hill wins restraining order against ex-husband

LOS ANGELES — Former U.S.

Rep. Katie Hill won a restraining order Tuesday against her ex-husband, whom she accused of choking and threatening her during years of abuse and of leaking nude photos and other information that led to her resignation.

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge ordered Kenneth Heslep to stay at least 100 yards away from

Hill, her mother and her sister, as well as Hill’s dog, goat and horse.

“He has previously killed and harmed my pets as a way to control and terrorize me,” Hill said in her request.

Heslep, 37, of Tustin, also was ordered not to stalk, threaten or assault Hill and her relatives or impersonate them on the web.

Hill alleged that her ex-husband was “obsessed with guns” and had at least a dozen. Under the restraining order, he must sell to or store guns with a licensed dealer or hand over to a police agency.

The restraining order stands until a Dec. 30 hearing to further discuss the case. The judge deferred until then a decision on whether to grant Hill’s request to bar Heslep from disseminating “confidential information” about Hill, such as her medical, sexual or financial history, to the media or on social media.

Hill, 33, was an unknown when she defeated Republican Steve Knight in 2018 for the House seat for the 25th Congressional District, which covers northern Los Angeles County and part of Ventura County.

She was part of a Democratic wave that knocked seven California Republicans out of power and appeared to have an up-and-coming political career.

However, Hill resigned less than a year later amid allegations that she had inappropriate affairs with a female campaign aide, which she confirmed, and a male congressional staff member, which she denied.