Spokane Mayor
Complains of 'Brutal Outing'
By AP from the
NYTimes on the Web, May 12, 2005
SPOKANE, Wash. -- Mayor James
West, under investigation by the FBI for allegedly offering municipal jobs to
men he met in gay online chat rooms, insists he is the victim of a ''brutal
outing.''
But a critic counters that West's pleas for understanding ring hollow because of
his many votes against gay rights as a politician.
''The hypocrisy, cynicism and lies upon which Mr. West built his political
career harmed homosexuals in our state, and his sexual orientation is thus a
legitimate topic for discussion,'' Mike Kress, vice chairman of the Spokane
Human Rights Commission, wrote in an opinion piece in Wednesday's
Spokesman-Review.
In an e-mail sent to nearly 140 people affiliated with a race relations task
force, West wrote that the group is responsible for making Spokane a community
where ''harassment, intimidation, discrimination'' are unacceptable.
''Does that include people who have an internal struggle with who they are
sexually and are searching for a way to come out ... ?'' wrote West, who is
co-chairman of the task force. ''Do others who desire to be out but are
having similar struggles now live in greater fear because of a brutal outing?''
A copy of the e-mail was obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press.
West, a 54-year-old Republican opponent of gay rights, has been under fire since
The Spokesman-Review reported allegations last week that he molested two boys in
the late 1970s and 1980s when he was a sheriff's deputy and Boy Scout leader.
The newspaper also set up an online sting and found him visiting a gay online
chat room.
The mayor denies the molestation claims but acknowledges he visited a gay chat
room and has had relations with men. He announced Tuesday he would be
taking a leave of absence.
City officials are investigating whether West offered internships in exchange
for sex, and whether his office computer was used improperly. Also, the
FBI has launched a preliminary investigation.
On Wednesday, City Attorney Mike Connelly asked the FBI and the Washington state
attorney general to open formal investigations of West, citing potential
conflicts of interest for local investigators.
''We believe it is in the best interest of the citizens and the city of Spokane
to request these investigations by independent agencies,'' Connelly said in a
statement.
The Spokesman-Review, The Seattle Times and Spokane radio station KGA have
called for West's resignation, as have former mayors John Talbott and Sheri
Barnard.
''If Jim West truly loves this city, as he has stated many times, he will resign
immediately and seek help,'' Barnard said. ''His credibility and trust are
gone and can never be regained.''
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