JUDGE: RECALL Councilmember Kshama Sawant goes forward
JUDGE RULES IN FAVOR OF RECALL From Recall Sawant website
FOUR CHARGES ARE CERTIFIED
AGAINST SAWANT, two dismissed
- That Councilmember Sawant “Relinquished Authority of her Office and Disregarded City of Seattle Employment and Hiring Rules.”
- That Councilmember Sawant misused City resources in promoting a ballot initiative.
- That Councilmember Sawant misused her official position by admitting hundreds of individuals at night into City Hall.
- That Councilmember Sawant led a protest march to Mayor Jenny Durkan’s private residence in violation of the State’s confidential program.
Recall effort of Mayor Durkan failed.
SUMMARY OF JUDGE ROGERS’ ORDER ON SUFFICIENCY OF CHARGES
1. Relinquishing Authority of Her Office and Disregarding City of Seattle Employment and Hiring Rules (December 2017)
•Court found that Sawant gave her duties to the Socialist Alternative party legally and factually sufficient.
On her website Sawant describes her agenda:
“Kshama Sawant is not a career politician. She is an activist who brings a passion for social justice to her work as a public servant. As a member of the City Council, Kshama pledges to be a voice for workers, youth, the oppressed and the voiceless. She only accepts the average workers’ wage and donates the rest of her six-figure salary to building social justice movements.
“Alongside being a teacher, Kshama is an activist, organizer, and socialist, and is a member of Socialist Alternative, in solidarity with the Committee for a Workers’ International, which organizes for working-class interests on every continent.”
2. Misuse of City of Seattle Council Office Resources to Promote a Ballot Initiative or Other Electioneering (Jan-February 2020)
•Court found that facts showed Sawant spent $2,000 and “assisted in other ways”
•Court found “these facts show actual knowledge of facts indicating that the Councilmember intended to commit an unlawful act”
3. Misuse of Councilmember Sawant’s Official Position in Admitting Hundreds of Individuals Illegally into City Hall Afterhours (June 9, 2020)
4. Using Her Official Position as City Councilmember to Lead a Protest March to Mayor Jenny Durkan’s Private Residence Whose Location is in the State Confidential Program (July 3rd 2020)
The clash between the Mayor and Sawant has been heated for months.
•Court found that Sawant and other organizers knew the Mayor’s address, knew it was confidential, and led the protestors right to the Mayor’s home – where the Councilmember is pictured speaking”
•Court found “this is more than sufficient to satisfy the intent requirement.”
Two counts were dismissed. Viist the Recqll Savant Website HERE
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