KIRO NEWSRADIO OPINION

‘A violation of the constitution’: Curley reacts after ‘unusual’ suspect arrested for stealing millionaires’ tax petition signatures

Jun 10, 2026, 7:26 PM

A man caught on video allegedly stealing signatures from a petition to repeal Washington’s millionaires’ tax has been arrested.

KIRO host John Curley reacted to the incident, in which a man allegedly took signature sheets from a woman collecting them outside a Safeway in Puyallup.

“This is what democracy looks like, according to this guy,” Curley said on “The John Curley Show” on KIRO Newsradio. “So you’re a big guy, you can walk in, you push a lady out of the way, because might makes right, and you collect, you grab the signatures, and you get in your truck, and you drive away.”

Curley pointed out the signature sheets contain private information, such as names and addresses. Beyond the theft of personal information, Curley argued the act was an attack on the constitutional right to petition the government.

“You’re stealing that, you are also taking a property … this is constitutional at this point, this is a violation of the constitution,” he said.

An ‘unusual’ suspect and the millionaires’ tax money trail

KIRO producer Joe Wallace pointed out the man doesn’t look like the usual type to harass signature gatherers.

“This guy is the antithesis of the typical signature protester,” he said. “It’s unusual.”

“You were giving credit for not having a purse,” Curley quipped.

“It’s nice to have some diversity in our protest,” Wallace responded.

Curley said the man is probably associated with a union in some way, as he would benefit from the millionaires’ tax.

“It’s coming to Washington, it’s going to go to Olympia, and then the people that get bought and paid for, I think they’re referred to as prostitutes, that are elected, bought with union money. They will then dole it out to all the groups,” he said.

“I’m just saying he looks like he was storming the Capitol on January 6,” Wallace responded.

“Glad we’re finding new people to violate the laws,” Curley replied.

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to John Curley weekday afternoons from 3 – 7 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.

John Curley on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM
  • listen to tom and curleyTune in to KIRO Newsradio weekdays at 3pm for The John Curley Show.

John Curley

KIRO Newsradio Opinion

Mayor Katie Wilson bite of seattle shooting security cameras...

Charlie Harger

Harger: Housing, the Bite of Seattle shooting, security cameras. Mayor Katie Wilson keeps finding new ways to postpone hard decisions

About 46,000 Seattle renter households spend more than half their income on housing. Half. Rent gets paid. Groceries get squeezed.

2 hours ago

SPD...

Jake Skorheim and Spike O'Neill Show

‘Tone deaf, completely’: Jake and Spike say cutting SPD’s $50K hiring bonus ‘does not reflect well for Seattle’

The Seattle Police Department will stop offering hiring bonuses, and KIRO hosts Jake and Spike think the timing could not be worse.

4 hours ago

alaska dan sullivan...

Jake Skorheim and Spike O'Neill Show

‘Almost everything is the exact same’: Jake reviews Alaska’s copycat Senate race with Dan Sullivan v. Dan Sullivan

Explore Alaska's rare Senate race featuring two Republican candidates, both named Dan Sullivan, in this intriguing political analysis.

1 day ago

cell phone ban ferguson...

Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin Show

‘It’s a swing and a miss’: Gee doubts Ferguson’s case for statewide phone ban

Gov. Ferguson advocates for a statewide phone ban in schools, but skepticism remains about its effectiveness and implementation.

1 day ago

aurora avenue seattle viral video pimp war trafficking...

John Curley Show

‘We are the place to come if you’re homeless’: Curley, KIRO producer spar over Seattle’s safety after viral Aurora billboard

A viral billboard near Aurora highlights issues of homelessness and crime in Seattle, stirring conversation among residents and veterans.

2 days ago

income taxes wa lifetime millionaires language...

Jake Skorheim and Spike O'Neill Show

‘I wish we got more for our money’: Jake, Spike dig into what Washingtonians pay in taxes over a lifetime

Jake and Spike analyze how much Washingtonians spend in taxes over a lifetime and where the state ranks nationally.

2 days ago

‘A violation of the constitution’: Curley reacts after ‘unusual’ suspect arrested for stealing millionaires’ tax petition signatures