Katie Porter blames Tom Steyer staffer for leaked video yelling at worker

The leaked video of Katie Porter yelling and cursing at a staffer might have solid a unfavorable mild on the Orange County consultant’s bid for California governor — and now she’s in search of somebody accountable.

Enter billionaire candidate Tom Steyer.

Porter accused her rival of leaking a harmful video that confirmed her berating a workers member in October 2025.

A newly uncovered doc seems to point out that Steyer’s present marketing campaign spokesman was among the many few individuals who had entry to the footage when it was initially recorded, the Los Angeles Occasions reported.

The footage, which was completely obtained by POLITICO, confirmed Porter telling an worker to “get out of my f–king shot” throughout a behind-the-scenes recording with former Power Secretary Jennifer Granholm in July 2021.

“I’m assured that’s the case,” Porter instructed CNN when requested how she knew Steyer’s marketing campaign was the supply of the leak.

“I’ve been instructed by many individuals it’s a Division of Power video, it was solely held by the Division of Power, and other people can observe the path to who his marketing campaign staffers are and perceive what occurred there,” she added.

Kevin Liao, who’s now incessantly cited by the media as a Steyer marketing campaign spokesman, was listed as an “anticipated participant” on a June 21, 2021 video name between Porter and Granholm that was recorded as a part of a Biden administration push selling electrical automobiles, in keeping with a memo obtained by the Occasions.

“It is a 20 minute recorded Zoom with Power Secretary Jennifer Granholm to debate the significance of investing in electrical automobiles,” the doc, apparently ready for Porter, learn. “Kevin Liao, Granholm’s press secretary, reached out to set this up. His crew will edit this video down right into a 2–3 minute clip for social media. Secretary Granholm could have a whiteboard, as famous within the script.”

Porter has doubled down on blaming Steyer for the video fallout after initially apologizing for her “not good” and brash conduct.

However she quickly leaned into the controversy much more.

Earlier this month, she launched a marketing campaign video that includes her most explosive second earlier than turning to a crowd of supporters on the finish of the advert and joking, “Now may you guys please get out of my shot?”

The California Publish, which has beforehand communicated with accused staffer Liao, reached out to him immediately for remark. He didn’t reply and as a substitute referred inquiries to a different marketing campaign colleague.

“Tom has nothing to do with that video,” one other marketing campaign spokesperson instructed The Publish when requested whether or not Liao had any involvement.

“That is an try from Katie Porter to deflect from her previous errors. Katie Porter solely has one particular person accountable for her standing within the race, and it’s herself,” the spokesperson added.

Porter has just lately been trailing the main candidates in polling.

Democrat Xavier Becerra leads the sector with 19%, whereas Republican Steve Hilton is tied with billionaire Democrat Tom Steyer at 17%. Republican Chad Bianco follows behind, with Porter falling into fifth place.

The video considerably broken Porter’s gubernatorial marketing campaign by fueling pre-existing narratives a few harsh temperament and poisonous workers administration fashion. The fallout additionally sparked a wave of AI-generated content material mocking the congresswoman, one thing her marketing campaign has struggled to counter.

The Porter marketing campaign didn’t instantly reply to The Publish’s request for remark relating to Steyer’s counteraccusations.

---

Obtain The California Publish App, observe us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters