Report: Man who claimed former Seattle mayor raped him filed lawsuit against city

The man who says former Seattle Mayor Ed Murray raped him dozens of times is filing a lawsuit against the city, KIRO 7’s Dave Wagner reports.

Jeff Simpson’s attorney Cheryl Snow told Wagner they are preparing to take the city to court “so truth can be established.”

Simpson is one of five men who publicly accused Ed Murray of rape. In February, Simpson filed a $1 million claim against the city — the first step toward a lawsuit. Simpson’s attorney said the city tried to bury a report of sexual abuse.

Snow told KIRO Radio’s Dori Monson that the current suit is about defamation on the City of Seattle’s part.

“It’s really concerning to see Sally Bagshaw standing directly behind Ed Murray, emotionally sobbing, clapping, supporting him as he’s standing behind a City of Seattle podium, on City of Seattle time, on City of Seattle dime, really boo-hooing and casting himself as a victim in all of this,” Snow said.

The claim stated the city publicly sided with Murray and “sat back and watched as Mr. Murray and his lawyer and his spokesperson defamed, disparaged, and slandered accusers.”

“The reckless disregard that Sally Bagshaw and Bruce Harrell and others in the city government had for the truth before they decided to throw their support behind this child rapist is really concerning and irresponsible,” Snow said.

Snow said that while it is unfortunate that the taxpayers may have to pay the cost of the lawsuit, there is no way to separate the city from the case because of the actions of Murray and his City Hall colleagues.

“If Ed Murray had defended himself personally, without the support of his office and the City of Seattle, I think things would have turned out differently,” Snow said. “I think that what we are really trying to address is, why was he so allowed to abuse the power of his office to run this smear campaign against victims? And to leave the City of Seattle out of that equation just wouldn’t be right, in my mind.”

According to past reports, Simpson lived in a Portland orphanage from age 6 to 13. He and Murray met when Murray was a volunteer. As a teenager, Simpson says he had regular contact with Murray, who, according to Simpson, raped him “repeatedly.”

Murray applied to be Simpson’s foster parent, and was investigated by child protective services when Simpson tried to report his behavior. No charges were ever brought forth, but it was documented.

Murray has consistently denied allegations of sexual abuse.

Just over a year ago, the city settled with Delvonn Heckard — another Murray accuser — for $150,000. Heckard died in an Auburn motel in February.

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