Katie Porter Accuses Tom Steyer Campaign of Leaking 2021 Video of Her Berating Staffer

Former Rep. Katie Porter has accused a staffer for rival Tom Steyer of leaking a 2021 video that showed her yelling at an employee during a prerecorded Zoom call. The video, obtained by Politico in October 2025, captured Porter telling a staff member to "get out of my f–king shot" while filming a segment with then-Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm to promote electric vehicles.

Porter made the accusation during a CNN interview on Monday, stating she was confident the Steyer campaign was responsible because the footage originated with the Department of Energy. "I am confident that is the case," Porter said. " A briefing memo obtained by the Los Angeles Times lists Kevin Liao, now a spokesman for Steyer's campaign, as an "expected participant" on the June 21, 2021, call.

The memo, prepared for Porter, states that Liao, then Granholm’s press secretary, reached out to set up the recording and that his team would edit it into a short clip for social media. The edited video was posted on the Energy Department’s Facebook page in early July 2021.

A spokesperson told reporters that Steyer had nothing to do with the video and described Porter’s claim as an attempt to deflect from her past mistakes. "This is an attempt from Katie Porter to deflect from her past mistakes. Katie Porter only has one person to blame for her standing in the race, and it’s herself," the spokesperson said.

Liao declined to comment when reached by the Los Angeles Times. Granholm, contacted via text message, denied leaking the video and said she did not know who did. The incident is the second unflattering video involving Porter to surface last fall. Days before the Zoom clip emerged, another recording showed her threatening to end an interview with a CBS California reporter after becoming frustrated with the questioning.

The videos have fueled criticism of Porter’s temperament during the campaign to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom. Democratic rivals, including Steyer, have questioned whether her brusque style is suitable for the governorship even as she remains known for blunt questioning during her time in Congress.

Porter has defended herself by noting that she apologized to the staff member, who continued working in her congressional office for four more years. Dozens of former staffers signed an open letter last month supporting her. A recent poll showed Porter trailing the leading candidates.

She placed fifth with 10 percent support among likely voters. The video has also generated a wave of AI-generated mocking content that her campaign has struggled to counter. Voting continues in the primary election. Top candidates are scheduled to appear in a debate hosted by CBS California and the San Francisco Examiner on Thursday night.

>"I am confident that is the case. " — Katie Porter, May 2026 (CNN) >"Tom has nothing to do with that video. This is an attempt from Katie Porter to deflect from her past mistakes.