BREAKING: Seattle Mayor Ed Murray Resigns After New Abuse Allegation Revealed

Updated: Hours after the Seattle Times revealed that there was a fifth allegation that Seattle Mayor Ed Murray was guilty of sexual abuse of a minor, the mayor’s office issued a statement that Murray would resign from the office of Seattle Mayor at 5pm on Wednesday, September 13, 2017:

SEATTLE (September 12, 2017) – Today, Mayor Murray released the following statement:

“I am announcing my resignation as mayor, effective at 5 p.m. tomorrow.

“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.

“I’m proud of all that I have accomplished over my 19 years in the Legislature, where I was able to pass what were at the time the largest transportation packages in state history, a landmark gay civil rights bill and a historic marriage equality bill.

“And I am proud of what we have accomplished together at the City during my time as mayor, passing a nation-leading $15 minimum wage, and major progressive housing affordability and police accountability legislation, as well as negotiating an agreement to build a world-class arena that I believe in time will bring the NHL and NBA to Seattle.

“But it has also become clear to me that in light of the latest news reports it is best for the city if I step aside.

“To the people of this special city and to my dedicated staff, I am sorry for this painful situation.

“In the interest of an orderly transition of power, Council President Bruce Harrell will become Mayor upon my resignation, and will decide within the following five days whether he will fill out the remainder of my term. During this time Director of Operations Fred Podesta has been tasked with leading the transition.”

The Times released a story earlier today alleging that Murray had abused a male cousin in the 1970s:

The Seattle Times reported Tuesday morning on the 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, New York, in the mid-1970s.

Murray flatly denied the accusations, attributing them to bad blood between two estranged wings of the family.

Murray, the first out gay mayor of the city of Seattle was elected in 2013. He had sought a second term in this year’s elections but after allegations emerged of sexual abuse by a South King County man in incidents dating back to the 1980s and further allegations of other incidnts, Murray withdrew from the 2017 Seattle mayoral race.