Spokane, Wash., Mayor Denies Allegations

[merwin]

Spokane, Wash., Mayor Denies Allegations

By JOHN K. WILEY, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 10 minutes ago

SPOKANE, Wash. - Mayor James E. West said on Tuesday he believes he will survive investigations into allegations that he committed criminal acts by trolling gay chat rooms and offering city jobs to men he met there.

West told NBC's "Today" show that he expects to be exonerated by FBI and city investigations.

"The e-mails that are coming to me are in my favor not to resign. Stand your ground," West said. "They say, 'If the allegations are true, you ought to go.' Well, they are not true."

The Spokesman-Review has reported allegations that West molested two boys in the late 1970s and early 1980s when he was a Boy Scout leader, and that he offered gifts, favors and jobs at City Hall to young men he met online.

The mayor has denied those allegations but acknowledged having relations with adult men.

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Yeah, right. They have hard evidence of you attempting to pick up an underage gay minor, and he thinks he can deny it? LOL.

[napi21]

1. I thought they had hard copy and electronic data proving this?

The only way I can imagine he can get out of it is to have a judge rule that the newspaper guy who posed as a teen on the gay website was actually guilty of entrapment, thus trowing out the proof.

[merwin]

2. That would only throw it out in a criminal trial. It's obvious that he DID

do what is alleged, because of the fact that there IS hard evidence.

[Diane R]

3. We want him GONE!!!!

Oh good grief.

I live in Spokane. We are desperate to remove him from office. He appointed a young (19 years old) man who he met on-line to the city's Human Rights Commission. Then, he offered the young man $300 to go swimming with him,naked. The young man felt that he was constantly being sexually harassed, and resigned. However, I believe that he kept at least some chat logs. He has filed an official complaint with the State of Washington.

Also, tonight our City Council will vote on a resolution calling on the Mayor to resign. It is expected to pass unanimously. Council members who have seen the e-mails that the Mayor referred to state that the only messages of support usually simply say that the sender is praying for the mayor. Believe me, this town does not want him to stay.

Interestingly, this right wing, fiscal conservative Mayor is allegedly refusing to resign so that his pension will be based on his two years as Mayor....I believe would receive at least 60% of his $135,000 salary. If he resigns or is removed from office earlier, his pension will be lower. He was treated for cancer recently, and wants to keep his health benefits.

When he was Majority Leader of our State's Senate, he repeatedly voted against providing health benefits and pensions for other workers.

Another Republican hypocrite.

[kweerwolf]

4. Oh this is jus too rich to go without repeating it at least once!

He was treated for cancer recently, and wants to keep his health benefits.

When he was Majority Leader of our State's Senate, he repeatedly voted against providing health benefits and pensions for other workers.

Thanks for sharing that bit of info with us, Diane R! I've followed the story somewhat in the news, but that info from someone who lives there is just priceless!

[Rainscents]

5. The emails must be caming from Rove telling him not to give up.

He is one sick baster!

[Roland99]

6. Did anyone see that interview? If his sphincter had been any tighter,

he'd be shitting diamonds.