Seattle Mayor Durkan Asks Council To Investigate Kshama Sawant
SEATTLE, WA — The feud between Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan and Councilmember Kshama Sawant further intensified Tuesday, as Durkan asked the council to investigate Sawant and weigh disciplinary measures, including potential expulsion from her office.
Durkan e-mailed the official request to Council President M. Lorena González Tuesday morning, citing "deep concerns about the continued actions of a Councilmember."
"I completely respect that any of us may disagree on policy issues, sometimes strongly," Durkan wrote. "Disagreements on policy contribute to robust public debate. However, policy disagreements do not justify a Councilmember who potentially uses their position in violation of law or who recklessly undermines the safety of others, all for political theatre."
The mayor's push for an investigation into Sawant follows the councilmember's repeated public calls for Durkan to resign over her handling of recent protests and failure to address problems within the Seattle Police Department.
Sawant released a lengthy response to the mayor's letter Tuesday afternoon, calling it an attack both on her office and on the larger movement for change.
"As a measure of outrage ordinary people feel at Durkan and the rotten status quo over which she presides, more than 20,000 Seattleites have signed peititions callong on her to resign or be impeached," Sawant wrote. "That is why Mayor Durkan's shameful attack today is not surprising."
Durkan outlines five allegations against Sawant, including three over the last month amid ongoing demonstrations against police killings, brutality and systemic racism.
The mayor's first point includes previously reported allegations from 2019 that Sawant improperly delegated staffing decisions within her office to the Socialist Alternative Party. The Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission dismissed the complaint last year.
The second allegation, which remains under investigation by the SEEC, is centered on Sawant's alleged use of her official office and city equipment for the "Tax Amazon" ballot initiative.
Durkan goes on to allege three specific actions during recent protests:
The mayor says Sawant used her official position to allow hundreds of protesters into City Hall without following proper COVID-19 precautions for visitors.
Durkan accused Sawant of using her position to encourage demonstrators at a Sunday rally to "illegally occupy" the East Precinct "as a time the City has been trying to de-escalate the situation."
Lastly, Durkan alleges Sawant led a march to her home on Sunday, knowing her address was protected due to previous threats from her work as a U.S. Attorney. The mayor goes on to accuse Sawant and her followers of having "reckless disregard" for her and her family's safety. An event page for Sunday's march listed two groups as organizing the event: the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People & Families, and the Seattle Democratic Socialists of America.
Seattle DSA tweeted a response to the mayor's final allegation Tuesday afternoon.
"While the Sunday rally was hosted by us, it's purpose was to amplify the voices of the Lyles family & other victims of police. Sawant was one invited speaker among many. In a crowd of hundreds, Durkan's prosecutor instincts are to single out a prominent POC as the 'ringleader.'"
A spokesperson for the City Council told Patch that Council President González was still considering the letter and did not expect to have a comment Tuesday. Councilmembers are scheduled to meet for two budget sessions Wednesday and may take action on a new payroll tax.
Read the mayor's full letter:
Read Kshama Sawant's full statement:
This article originally appeared on the Seattle Patch
