Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray Resigns After a Fifth Allegation of Child Sexual Abuse


Seattle's openly gay mayor, Ed Murray, had been planning to resign when his term was up amid multiple allegations of sexual abuse of minors. But today a younger cousin came forward to join the other accusers, prompting Murray to resign effective 5 p.m. today:

“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 said in a statement.

City Councilmember Bruce Harrell will become mayor and will decide within five days whether to fill out the remainder of the term, the statement says.

The Seattle Times reported Tuesday morning on allegations by Murray’s cousin, Joseph Dyer, 54, who has become the fifth man to publicly accuse Murray of sexual abuse.

Dyer says he was 13 when Murray forced him into sex when the two shared a bedroom at Dyer’s mother’s home in Medford, N.Y., in the mid-1970s. (Dyer is the fifth man to publicly accuse Murray since April.)

Another accuser, Lloyd Anderson, issued a statement Tuesday through his lawyer: “I feel victory, but saddened that it required another victim to come forward for him to resign. I wonder how many other victims are out there.”

Murray, 62, a former Democratic state legislator, has repeatedly denied that he sexually abused anyone, contending the accusations are part of a political takedown targeting him for his progressive politics and record as a gay-rights champion.

Murray attributed Dyer’s claims to bad blood between two estranged wings of the family.

Murray ended his re-election bid earlier this year because of the scandal, but had staved off calls for his resignation before his term is completed this year.

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