Ed Murray announced in a statement Tuesday his plans to resign as the Seattle Mayor after a fifth victim has come forward accusing him of sexual abuse.
On Wednesday afternoon, Murray, 62, revealed he would not be seeking another term under the state.
He also claimed the slew of current and previous assault claims against him are false.
‘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 the public statement.
September 12: According to reports, Seattle Mayor Ed Murray is expected to resign today after a fifth man came forward accusing Murray of sexual abuse
This June 14, 2017 file photo Seattle Mayor Ed Murray takes a question at a news conference at City Hall in Seattle. Murray announced his resignation, Tuesday, Sept. 12 after his younger cosuin came forward accusing him of sexual abuse decades ago
The fifth man, said to be a younger cousin of Murray, alleged the abuse happened decades ago, according to The Seattle Times.
Joseph Dyer, now 54, is Murray’s first cousin once removed. He is a dialysis technician and Air Force veteran.
Dyer told the newspaper he was 13 and that Murray was in his early 20’s when Murray came to live with Dyer’s family in Medford, New York and the alleged abuse happened.
Murray since blamed Dyer for bad relations between their families.
The Associated Press does not typically name alleged victims of sex abuse, but Dyer gave an extensive interview to the newspaper.
Four other men previously accused Murray of sexual abuse.
On Wednesday afternoon, Murray, 62, revealed he would not be seeking another term under the state. He also claimed the slew of current and previous assault claims against him are false
Lloyd Anderson, another accuser, said in a Tuesday statement he feels ‘victory’ but is ‘saddened that it required another victim to come forward for him to resign,’ the newspaper reports.
‘I wonder how many other victims are out there,’ Anderson added.
Politician and mayoral candidate, Jenny Durkan, also endorsed Murray’s decision to resign from his position, while questioning his background.
‘It is time for Mayor Murray to step down,’ Durkan said in a statement.
‘It’s clear that it is in everybody’s best interest for him to resign. As a parent, former public official and openly gay woman, these allegations are beyond sad and tragic; no official is above the law.’
Before being elected mayor in 2013, Murray was a long-time Democrat state lawmaker who led the campaign to legalize same-sex marriage in Washington state.
As mayor, he pushed to raise the city’s minimum hourly wage to $15.
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