Murray Accuser Says Mayor Defamed Him, Wants Millions In Damages: Report

SEATTLE, WA - The Kent man who sued Seattle Mayor Ed Murray over sex abuse claims earlier this spring is now seeking millions in damages from the city of Seattle. Delvonn Heckard is seeking up to $3 million from the Seattle alleging that Murray defamed him in public statements after Heckard filed his sex abuse suit.

According to KOMO News, the claim states:

"Acting within the scope of employment for the City of Seattle, and utilizing and abusing his position of power, Mayor Ed Murray falsely and defamatorily accused Mr. Heckard, a gay man, of participating in an anti-gay right wing conspiracy along with other victims including Jeff Simpson and Lloyd Anderson. It was recently confirmed that there was no conspiracy and Mayor Murray fabricated these allegations for political gain and in order to silence Mr. Heckard, and other victims. Mayor Murray’s lawyers and Spokesman, Jeff Reading, participated in making the defamatory allegations and accusations during various press conferences over a period of months."

Heckard's original suit alleged Murray paid Heckard for sex in 1986 when Heckard was 15; the suit also alleges that Murray raped Heckard. Murray has pushed back against the allegations. He has said in public press conferences the suit was politically motivated and played to anti-gay stereotypes.

The suit caused Murray to drop out of the race, and Heckard subsequently suspended his sex abuse suit - although he says he will revisit it after Murray leaves office in January. More recently, the Seattle Times uncovered a report written by an Oregon child protective services investigator who found Murray very likely sexually abused his teen foster son in 1984. Murray was not prosecuted in that case.

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