Seattle City Council won’t comment on claims against mayor

SEATTLE – Seattle City Council President Bruce Harrell says he and his colleagues won’t comment on sex abuse accusations made against Mayor Ed Murray.

In a statement released Monday, Harrell said the council is committed to “the business of governing” and won’t make statements on pending or potential litigation.

The Seattle Times reported last week that a 46-year-old man filed a lawsuit claiming Murray sexually abused him in the 1980s. The man says he was a high-school dropout at the time.

Murray has denied the allegations, saying they were politically motivated.

Harrell says the council can’t afford to be distracted by the claims. He says all city employees are focused on their core responsibilities of customer service, affordable housing, homelessness, public safety, transportation and education.