MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Mayor Murray acknowledges connection to accuser

Apr 18, 2017, 6:13 PM | Updated: 8:36 pm

Murray...

Jeff Simpson has accused Seattle Mayor Ed Murray of sexual abuse while he was a minor in the 1980s. (KIRO 7, AP)

(KIRO 7, AP)

As allegations of sexual abuse continue to surround Seattle Mayor Ed Murray, he admitted Tuesday that he does have a connection with one of his accusers.

“I was his legal guardian for just under two years,” Murray told KIRO 7 Tuesday, referring to Jeff Simpson.

RELATED: Murray accuser says “Ed is not evil … Ed is sick”

Simpson is one of two Portland men who have accused the Seattle mayor of sexual abuse while they were minors in the 1980s. Recently, a third man has made similar accusations in a lawsuit — a Kent man referred to as D.H. in court documents. The mayor has denied the allegations.

Recently, KIRO 7 obtained documents from the State of Oregon that confirms Simpson was under the foster care of Ed Murray in 1982 at a Portland address.

“DHS gave him custody of me, and to become my foster father,” Simpson told KIRO 7. “But the abuse started at age 13; he raped me for the first time at age 13. When I was living with him, it would be almost every night.”

Simpson has previously detailed how the abuse began after he met Murray while living at an orphanage. Murray was a volunteer at the time. According to Simpson, the two developed a relationship and Simpson often went to his apartment for dinners and movies.

Now, however, Simpson is speaking out about the alleged abuse. He stresses that he is not asking for anything other than for the mayor to admit what he did.

“I need closure,” Simpson said. “Your victims need closure so they can heal.”

MyNorthwest News

america pnw food cities...

Jason Sutich

2 PNW cities crack top 5 of America’s best food cities

A new study ranked the cities with the best "foodie" culture, and two Pacific Northwest cities placed in the top five out of more than 180 U.S. cities.

3 hours ago

Sanctuary 1...

Julia Dallas

From saline pools to GLP-1s to halotherapy: Inside Seattle’s $8M Sanctuary

Glen Swain's $8 million Sanctuary will be a private performance, recovery, and social club.

6 hours ago

seattle earthquake port orchard...

Jason Sutich

4.2 magnitude earthquake hits near Port Orchard, felt from Issaquah to Olympia

A 4.2 magnitude earthquake hit near Wauna, Washington, Tuesday afternoon, with residents spanning from Issaquah to Olympia reporting that they felt the tremor.

8 hours ago

kitsap county sheriff doordash...

MyNorthwest Staff

Couple sentenced in stabbing, carjacking of DoorDash driver who offered their family a ride near Sequim

A couple accused of stabbing and carjacking DoorDash driver Melvin Swagerty after he stopped to help their family near Sequim last year are headed to prison.

8 hours ago

oregon wedding elk...

MyNorthwest Staff

VIDEO: Oregon wedding gets unexpected antlered guest

A wedding at Cannon Beach in Oregon was crashed by an unexpected guest.

9 hours ago

Bremerton SWAT dead...

Jason Sutich

Barricaded man fires several rounds at SWAT team, later found dead inside home near Bremerton

An armed man barricaded himself inside a home in unincorporated Bremerton on Monday and died from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

10 hours ago

Mayor Murray acknowledges connection to accuser