Katie Porter has been caught on video multiple times displaying aggressive behavior towards her staff during an interview.
According to a former staff member, the situation behind the scenes for California’s gubernatorial candidates is apparently worse than what is captured on camera.
One of Porter’s most unsettling tactics involves belittling her younger employees by referring to them in a derogatory manner while looking right at them.
Sasha Georgiades, a former Wounded Warrior Fellow who worked in Porter’s office from 2020 to 2022, told The Post that Porter was often “really mean” and exhibited a pattern of belittling behavior. She described how it was easier for Porter to mistreat quieter individuals who wouldn’t speak up against her.
“I think going after someone when you think they’re not going to fight back says a lot about that person,” Georgiades said, suggesting that, as a public servant, one should be more empathetic, especially towards the quieter members of society.
In a recent CBS interview, Porter threatened to leave when she was pushed on how she planned to attract Republican voters for her campaign. A previous video also came to light showing her angrily demanding a staff member to “get out of my shot.”
Georgiades recounted how working with Porter felt like dealing with two different people, making it hard to predict which version of Porter would show up on any given day.
“If something went wrong, she would flip out right away,” Georgiades recalled, mentioning an incident where Porter criticized a team member right in her presence, saying she could handle the task better. “It’s inhumane and demoralizing,” Georgiades reflected on her former experience.
In July 2022, Georgiades had published messages that exposed the toxic environment in Porter’s office. After both tested positive for COVID-19, Porter confronted Georgiades and fired her, blaming her for the illness even though Georgiades showed no symptoms.
Porter’s campaign did not respond to media inquiries regarding these allegations.
The former congresswoman’s violent past has also come under scrutiny, particularly accusations from her ex-husband, who claimed in a restraining order that she once threw food at his head and used derogatory language towards him.
Although she initially sought a restraining order against him for alleged abuse, that request was later withdrawn, and their divorce matters have since been resolved.
Now, with aspirations to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2026, Georgiades believes recent events should serve as a warning to voters. “If she’s consistently being absolutely mean to people, we have to acknowledge that,” she stated.
Still, despite her experiences, Georgiades remains committed to her work with a nonprofit organization focused on survivors of military sexual trauma. Interestingly, she expressed a degree of forgiveness for her former boss, suggesting that Porter may have started with good intentions but has become manipulative under pressure.
