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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
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Seattle Mayor Resigns as Sex Abuse Claims Mount

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray resigned Tuesday in the wake of new allegations reported by the Seattle Times that he molested a teenage cousin in the 1970s, when he was in his 20s.

SEATTLE (CN) – Seattle Mayor Ed Murray resigned Tuesday in the wake of new allegations reported by the Seattle Times that he molested a teenage cousin in the 1970s, when he was in his 20s.

“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.

Murray, a liberal Democrat who was expected to easily win a second term, dropped his re-election bid in May after four men claimed he sexually abused them when they were teenagers.

Delvonn Heckard filed a civil suit against Murray on April 6, claiming Murray paid him for anal and oral sex and other sex acts when he was a homeless teenage drug addict in the 1980s. Heckard later withdrew the complaint, saying he wanted to complete drug rehabilitation first.

Murray has consistently denied the claims, saying he has never sexually abused anyone.

On Tuesday, the Times reported that Murray molested a 13-year-old cousin in New York while Murray was living with the cousin’s family from 1975-76.

The cousin has reportedly contacted Heckard’s attorney, Lincoln Beauregard, and provided a statement about his own claims.

Murray said there was bad blood between the families and he did not sexually abuse his cousin, according to the Times.

“There’s been numerous fights between our two families for many years, and much ugliness. I guess they see me down and out, and they want to finish me off,” Murray told the Times.

Murray’s resignation is effective 5 p.m. Wednesday, when City Councilmember Bruce Harrell will become the new mayor.

Categories / Government, Regional

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