Former California congresswoman Katie Hill (D.) admitted in a new profile that she initially planned to lie about the “throuple” relationship with a campaign staffer that came to light in October.

“You know, honestly, it was one of those things where it was like, Well, I’ll just deny it, [emphasis in original]” Hill told New York magazine writer Caitlin Moscatello. “Morgan [the staffer] is not accusing me of anything. She doesn’t want it to come out any more than I do.”

“Plenty of politicians lie, but it’s rare for one to tell a reporter it was her game plan,” Moscatello wrote.