Aspiring Democratic California governor Katie Porter is once again facing accusations of staff bullying, following the online circulation of a revealing video clip.
Porter, 51, is in hot water after she was caught on video berating and cursing at one of her employees to ‘get out of her f***ing shot.’
That video emerged after the Democrat went viral for a filmed clash with a local journalist.
Now, a 2021 video uploaded to social media captures Porter visibly displeased with her staff over lighting issues during a Zoom meeting.
‘This is why I didn’t…’ a clearly annoyed Porter begins saying.
‘I need the lights off… the bright lights,’ she continues, becoming more exasperated by the second.
‘I need you to turn these off. These, that are killing me,’ Porter said as she stared at her employee with unbridled fury.
‘Not that dark,’ Porter says right before she cuts her camera and sound.
Aspiring Democratic California governor Katie Porter was caught berating her staff in a third viral video
The clip from 2021 shows an agitated Porter shooting death stares at her staff over the lighting
Shared by Torunn Sinclair, the video was marked with the comment: ‘Katie got big mad at her staff during a 2021 Zoom because they were struggling with the lighting.’
‘Instead of handling the moment gracefully, she suddenly cut audio and video after shooting her team a withering glare.’
Porter, currently a leading candidate in California’s primary race to succeed Gavin Newsom, has stirred controversy with these videos showcasing her interactions with her team.
In a resurfaced video from a July 2021 conversation with then-Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, Porter is seen reprimanding a staffer for obstructing her shot, demonstrating the pressures within the Democratic representative’s team.
An uncut version of the video, provided by POLITICO, reveals that just moments into the discussion, a masked female staffer appeared briefly onscreen and shortly thereafter was visible scanning through items in the background.
‘Get out of my f***ing shot,’ Porter yelled as she noticed the aid, who said she simply wanted to correct something the congresswoman had said about electric vehicles.
‘OK,’ Porter replies, clearly irritated. ‘You also were in my shot before that. Stay out of my shot.’
The viral videos spell trouble for Porter, who has faced accusations for years that she was a difficult boss or was abusive to employees during her time in Congress.
Porter was caught on camera flipping out at a staffer for ‘getting in her shot’
Her recent meltdown in an interview with local CBS News reporter Julie Watts also did not help.
In the now-viral interview, Porter was being probed about Newsom’s attempt to redistrict California to benefit Democrats – and what she would say to Californians who voted for President Donald Trump whom Watts said she will ‘need to win.’
Porter, though, seemed to disagree as she furrowed her brow and asked: ‘How would I need them in order to win, ma’am?’
Still, Watts stood her ground.
‘Unless you think you’re going to get 60 percent of the vote. You think you’ll get 60 percent? Everyone who did not vote for Trump will vote for you?’
‘If it is me versus a Republican? I think that I will win the people who did not vote for Trump,’ Porter said, after turning to mug and laugh at the camera in an apparent attempt to get viewers on-side.
Watts then pointed out that California’s electoral system involves a ‘jungle primary,’ in which several candidates from all parties contest one primary, with the top two candidates moving on to the general.
With that in mind, Porter was pressed on what would happen were her general election opponent to be another Democrat.
‘I don’t intend that to be the case,’ she responded.
Watts then questioned how Porter could be sure that a Democrat-on-Democrat general wouldn’t happen.
The question prompted the former congresswoman to get increasingly annoyed, as she said she would build the support and cited her experience representing Orange County in Congress, which is a swing district.
Porter also lashed out at an interviewer challenging the Democrat on her candidacy for governor
‘But you just said you don’t need those Trump voters,’ Watts retorted.
With that, Porter finally began to crack, starting to gesture with her hands and questioning Watts’ interview.
‘Well you asked me if I needed them to win. I feel like this is unnecessarily argumentative, what is your question?’
Porter indignantly claimed she ‘never had to do this before’ as she was daring herself to walk out on Watts, who again pointed out that every other candidate had done the same interview.
‘I’m me. I’m running for governor because I’m a leader, so I am going to make-‘ she said before Watts asked: ‘So you’re not going to answer interview questions from reporters?’
The clip was blasted across social media and pounced on by her electoral rivals on both sides.
Fellow Democrat Xavier Becerra wrote: ‘I’m not interested in excluding any vote. Every Californian deserves affordable health care, safe streets, a roof over their head and a living wage.’
The former congresswoman has faced accusations for years that she was a difficult boss or was abusive to employees during her time in Congress
Republican Steve Hilton added: ’15 years of one party rule. This is what you get. It’s time for change in California.’
The Daily Mail has reached out to Porter’s campaign for comment.
But in a statement to Politico on Wednesday, the former congresswoman said: ‘It’s no secret I hold myself and my staff to a higher standard and that was especially true as a member of Congress.
‘I have sought to be more intentional in showing gratitude to my staff for their important work,’ she said.
Porter left Congress following an unsuccessful run for Senate.
She was first elected to Congress in the 2018 midterms and has represented first California’s 45th district and then 47th district since 2023.
