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Katie Porter, a Democrat from California, criticized a local police agency for arresting a man she lived with in July 2021 for allegedly assaulting a pro-Trump protester.
Following the incident, Porter sent Irvine Mayor Farrah Khan a harsh text message describing their officers as a ‘disgrace.’
Fox News reported the hacked text message in September, more than a year after the event and less than a month before Porter’s reelection contest against Republican Scott Baugh.
The battle occurred at Porter’s first town hall held in Irvine following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Julian Willis was detained after allegedly bloodying the nose of a Trump supporter; he was cited for his claimed role.
At this time, Willis’ relationship to Porter is unknown. Porter has three children, and most of her campaign literature refers to her as a “single mother.”
Porter divorced her husband and the father of her children, Matthew Hoffman, in 2013 after accusing him of mental and physical abuse against her and their children.
Julian Willis was detained after he allegedly gave a Trump fan a bloody nose; he was cited for his claimed involvement.
Rep. Katie Porter, who spoke at the event, shares a home with Willis, although their relationship is still unknown.
While the Orange County Register says that ‘American Nationalist’ and staunch Trump supporter Nick Taurus organized the demonstrators,
Willis, 51, resides with Porter at her residence on the Irvine campus of the University of California, according to public records.
Since 1997, Willis has worked on Wall Street and in finance, per his official website. On that page, he identifies himself as the director of marketing for the financial advisory firm Derivative Path.
Willis is also a financial journalist whose work has appeared in USA Today and Yahoo! Finance.
At the time of his arrest, NBC San Diego reported that Willis resided in La Jolla, just outside San Diego and around 70 miles south of UC Irvine. Willis had a La Jolla address prior to enrolling at the University of California, Irvine, according to public records.
The station reported Willis’ detention as’short.’
Fox News adds that Porter later texted Irvine’s mayor: “I will never trust them again” and “Your police force is a disgrace.”
According to online data, Willis is a Philadelphia native and Tufts University graduate who currently resides in Southern California.
In reaction to the Fox News report, Porter’s spokesperson, Jordan Wong, told Fox News that the Democratic representative was ‘upset that a scheduled family-friendly town hall was hijacked by extremists, who made residents feel unsafe by hurling ugly slurs in front of children.’
Since then, Rep. Porter and our office have collaborated effectively with the Irvine Police Department, including the congresswoman having the incoming police chief in her office for a cooperative meeting.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Trump supporters heckled Porter throughout the event with phrases such as “Carpetbagger Katie!” and “Corrupt Katie Porter.”
A porter fan stated, “It’s distressing.” However, there is no purpose in conversing with them. They truly have the same opportunity to submit questions as the rest of us.
In July 2021, Porter’s office published a statement regarding the incident, which read: ‘It is disheartening that a small but noisy number of guests, who promoted a ‘confrontation rally,’ produced unsafe conditions at a family-friendly event.’
While I totally accept their freedom to differ, their disruption was disrespectful to all the families that attended and were prepared to engage in a meaningful, civil, and secure manner.
The statement added, ‘My team and I am assessing next actions, but I assure the families of Orange County that I will continue to attend town halls and communicate with them.’
The Los Angeles Times said that Trump fans heckled Porter during the event with phrases like “Carpetbagger Katie!” and “Corrupt Katie Porter.”
According to the Orange County Register, the demonstrators were organized by ‘American Nationalist’ and staunch backer of Donald Trump, Nick Taurus.
According to The Register, Taurus’ personal comments against Porter dragged her fans into the conflict.
The Times reports that when the protest grew aggressive, Porter raced to the melee and wrapped her arms around an older woman nearby.
Sgt. Karie Davies of the Irvine Police Department told the Times that authorities received a report from a Trump supporter alleging assault and battery, but the injuries’sounded mild,’ Davies said.
Kathleen Ripley, a Porter supporter, stated that the event is distressing.
However, there is no purpose in conversing with them. They truly have the same opportunity to submit questions as the rest of us… They chose instead to be disrespectful by shouting over the congresswoman and everyone else present.
Porter’s home has been scrutinized because the purchase was financed by UC Irvine, where she taught when she purchased it.
Prior to her election in 2018, Congresswoman Porter taught at UC Irvine’s law school, which funded the purchase of her home. As a result, her dwelling has come under examination.
Porter has been on unpaid leave from UC Irvine since her election.
Porter’s four-bedroom, three-bathroom home was acquired in 2011 for $523,000, a price below market value negotiated through a scheme the institution uses to attract academics who could not otherwise afford to live in the affluent neighborhood.
The only criteria for qualifying was continued employment with the school.
According to university emails obtained by The Associated Press, at least one law school administrator who was also a fundraiser to her campaign helped gain tenure extensions for her while she stayed in Congress.
This has allowed Porter, a rising Democratic star and fundraising powerhouse with a net worth of up to $2 million, to retain her home despite the uncertainty surrounding her return to school.