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Moon says Durkan should have condemned Ed Murray much earlier

caption: Jenny Durkan and Cary Moon
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Jenny Durkan and Cary Moon
KUOW PHOTO/MEGAN FARMER

Ed Murray's resignation is sending ripples through the Seattle mayor's race.

Cary Moon said at a news conference Tuesday that her opponent, Jenny Durkan, was too late to hold Murray accountable after several men accused him of sexually abusing them.

“I came out early asking him to step down. She has only done so today, and I think when the pressure got too high,” Moon said. “I think she could have stood up for victims and survivors much earlier than she did.”

Durkan's response?

“That's wrong. I previously called on the mayor to do what was in the best interest of the city, and to reflect deeply on that,” Durkan said. “Today it was clear that he could not continue to serve as mayor and that it was in the best interests of the city that he resign. I called on him to resign, and I think that his decision to do so was the right decision.”

Durkan issued a statement calling for Murray to resign an hour before Murray made his announcement that he was quitting.

Murray and Durkan appeared together when he endorsed her in June. Moon called for Murray's resignation in May, shortly after the first allegations of sexual abuse were made.

Murray resigned Tuesday, a couple of hours after the Seattle Times published accusations from a fifth man that Murray sexually abused him decades ago.

Murray has denied these accusations and the previous ones against him.

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