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A4 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 10 May 2017
Seattle mayor abandons re-election campaign after sex claims
SEATTLE (AP) — Seat- mayor, a former longtime
tle Mayor Ed Murray on state lawmaker, said the
Tuesday dropped his re- mayoral race should be
election bid after four dominated by issues im-
men claimed he sexually portant for Seattle instead
abused them when they of a scandal. Murray was
were teenagers, allega- the favorite to win before
tions Murray vehemently the lawsuit emerged in
denied as an anti-gay po- early April, with commu-
litical conspiracy aimed at nity activist and lawyer
derailing his campaign. Nikkita Oliver his highest-
Murray for weeks pushed profile challenger. But oth-
ahead for a second term ers have since jumped into
despite the allegations but the race, including former
told reporters he decided Seattle Mike McGinn, who
it would be best for the Murray beat in 2013. State
city for him to abandon his Sen. Jamie Pedersen, a
campaign. He said he will Democrat, said after Mur-
serve out his term through ray spoke that “we’ve lost
the end of this year. somebody as a leader in
“It tears me to pieces to the community who has
step away but I believe Seattle Mayor Ed Murray is surrounded and embraced by supporters, some in tears, after reading accomplished an amazing
it’s in the best interest of a statement saying that he is dropping his re-election bid for a second term Tuesday, May 9, 2017, amount of good.” Asked
this city that I love,” said in Seattle. Last month a man filed a lawsuit claiming he was sexually abused by Murray in the about the sex abuse alle-
Murray, 62, flanked by his 1980s when he was a teenager. Three others made similar allegations, and all were vehemently gations, he said: “If they’re
husband and tearful sup- denied by Murray. true, it’s tragic. If they’re
(AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) not true, it’s tragic,”
porters. Murray reiterated Before winning the city’s
his denial of the allega- top job, Murray served for
tions that first emerged last 18 years as a state law-
month when a man filed maker. He was the prime
a lawsuit claiming Mur- sponsor of Washington’s
ray paid him for sex in the gay marriage law, spear-
1980s. Three other men also headed an effort to pro-
came forward with similar tect LGBTQ youth in public
allegations, including one schools and led the state’s
who is jailed on drug charg- push to ban discrimination
es. “The allegations against based on sexual orienta-
me are not true,” Murray tion. After President Don-
said. “And I say this with ald Trump was elected last
all honesty and with the fall, Murray became a fre-
deepest sincerity. But the quent, high-profile critic.
scandal surrounding them He recently announced
and me is hurting this city.” Seattle was suing over
He has previously claimed Trump’s executive order
the allegations were part that threatens to withhold
of an anti-gay conserva- federal funds from com-
tive campaign to oust him, munities that refuse to co-
but Murray did not repeat operate with efforts to find
those accusations during and deport immigrants in
his speech. Several of the the country illegally.
accusers have said they Delvonn Heckard, the
are gay but were not in- man who filed the lawsuit
volved in politics. Murray, against Murray, believes
a Democrat, said he was the mayor’s decision to
proud of accomplishments drop his re-election bid
including raising Seattle’s “is one step towards jus-
minimum wage to $15 and tice and achieving (Heck-
called his term “the ab- ard’s) cause of spreading
solute, absolute opportu- truth,” his lawyer said in a
nity of a lifetime.” But the statement.q
