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Seattle Mayor Ed Murray resigned Tuesday, just hours after new allegationsthat he had sexually abused a younger cousin decades ago in New York.

Murray, a former Democratic state legislator elected mayor in 2013, said in a statement he is resigning effective 5 p.m. Wednesday.

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, adding he was proud of his accomplishments while in office.

The mayor stayed in his office Tuesday and didn’t address his staff at large before his resignation announcement, according to a source. Pizza was seen being delivered to his staff on the seventh floor of City Hall.

City Council President Bruce Harrell will temporarily serve as mayor and will decide within five days whether to fill out the remainder of Murray’s term. If he decides against it, the council would pick another of its members to serve as mayor until the Nov. 7 election results are certified.

In a statement, Harrell said, “my heart goes out” to survivors of sexual abuse due to “the re-traumatization these allegations have caused…

“These accusations are unspeakable and require the utmost attention from our legal and social service system no matter how long ago they might have occurred.”

Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant blasted her colleagues for not acting to push Murray from office sooner. “Unfortunately, the majority of the City Council failed to show any such leadership,” she said.

Murray’s resignation came shortly after 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 child sexual abuse.

 

 

See More- Source: Seattle Times