May 9, 2005 | Funny Bits

Spokane mayor takes leave

Formerly closeted Spokane, Wash. Mayor Jim West has taken a leave of absence in the wake of allegations of sexual abuse. As he left, City Hall officials seized his computer in order to investigate if he improperly used it to cruise men online. 

On Thursday (May 5), the Spokesman-Review, a Spokane newspaper,  alleged that West, 54, had arranged to meet an 18 year-old high school boy through Gay.com chatrooms after promising him favors through his office, including a City Hall internship. The newspaper had in fact invented the high school senior and initiated the online relationship in an effort to gather  evidence of sexual improprieties against the mayor.

The Spokesman-Review also alleged that West had molested boys while he was a sheriff's deputy and Boy Scout leader in the late 1970s and early 1980s. West denied the molestation claims but acknowledged that he had visited a gay chat room and had relations with men.

West has been closeted for his entire political career and has used his office to actively work against the cause of gay rights. Given his  anti-gay political agenda, it's a wonder it has taken this long for him to be outed as gay. 
[Spokesman-Review] [The New York Times] [CNN]