The fifth child molestation allegation against Seattle’s Democratic Mayor Ed Murray arrived from his first cousin’s son, compelling the Seattle figurehead to resign effective Wednesday, September 13, 2017 at end of business day. After a spate of child sex-abuse allegations poured in from boys claiming to have been victimized by Murray, the married mayor claimed he would complete his political term and not seek re-election.
But that changed today when Seattle Mayor Murray’s first cousin’s son, Joseph Dyer, 54, divulged he had been sexually molested by Murray decades ago in a Medford, NY home headed by Dyer’s mom, Maryellen Sottile.
The Seattle Times reported that once it published the latest accusation this morning, Murray rather swiftly tendered his resignation to now-acting Mayor Bruce Harrell who is also the Seattle City Council president.
“While the allegations against me are not true, it is important that my personal issues do not affect the ability of our city government to conduct the public’s business.”
Murray was a career politician whose championing gay rights remained a staple ingredient in his political platform.
In the Seattle City Council official statement, President Harrell wrote on behalf of its 9-member body:
Per City Charter, the Council President (@BruceHarrell) has 5 days to decide whether to fill the vacancy left by the Mayor. His statement: pic.twitter.com/xYiO0GV6V6
— Seattle City Council (@SeattleCouncil) September 12, 2017
Councilwoman Kshama Sawant, whose “civil unrest” role OpsLens previously reported, had the following prepared statement published:
So far Seattle Councilmembers have been quiet but @cmkshama just released this statement: pic.twitter.com/dawTJ237I9
— Natalie Brand (@NatalieABrand) September 12, 2017
Notice in the second and third line she states “while no one should be tried in the court of public opinion,” after which she spoke the following words:
.@cmkshama calls on city council to center sexual violence survivors in city budget pic.twitter.com/4Us2AKPrKb
— Heidi Groover (@heidigroover) September 12, 2017
Other than Council President Harrell’s written acknowledgement, with the exception of Councilwoman Sawant, none of the other council-members published any independent responses to their mayor’s resignation.
The buildup of allegations against Mayor Murray chronicle over the past few months:
Seatle Mayor won't step down after allegations of abuse on foster child surface. https://t.co/i1sL5cOBil
— Lori Patriot (@LoriPatriot) July 18, 2017
And the allegation reported in July 2017 was preceded by another:
3 More Come Forward in Seatle Mayor Murray Child Sex Abuse Scandalhttps://t.co/3jyKeyuJ0Q
— NAPALM (@NAPALM_USA) April 27, 2017
And from a President Trump-supporting MAGA perspective the following was tweeted:
#Seatle Mayor accused of raping boy Maybe this should be #Trending #RT #MAGA https://t.co/bDCZ15qrEX
— ❌The Random Tweeter❌ (@cliftonhfc1) April 9, 2017
Along with another pro-Republican opining as such:
Seatle Mayor Ed Murray resigns after a sexual abuse scandal, proves once again that Democrats are the real predators.
— Rob Z. (@LoneConservati1) September 12, 2017
One of Murray’s accusers is his former foster son, while another is now a grown man who purports Murray paid him for sex when he was a teen. The latter has stated he plans to file lawsuit against Murray when he no longer holds the mayoral capacity, according to The Daily Gazette.
For his part, Murray claims innocence and apologized to his mayoral staff for a “painful situation.” With the Seattle mayor resignation, Murray went on to say: “While the allegations against me are not true, it is important that my personal issues do not affect the ability of our city government to conduct the public’s business.”
Wed in August 2013, Murray is married to Seattle’s First Gentleman Michael Shioski, who happens to be Planning and Development Director for Seattle Parks and Recreation.
