King County Assessor John Wilson has been arrested in connection with a stalking investigation involving his ex-partner, Lee Keller. Wilson, who is also a candidate for King County Executive, was taken into custody Wednesday night after Keller alleged he violated a domestic violence protection order. According to FOX 13 Seattle, bail was set at $50,000 during a court appearance where Wilson's attorney argued there was no physical threat involved.
Despite the lack of physical assault claims, the seriousness of the situation was highlighted as Wilson was described to have repeatedly breached the restraining order granted to Keller in May. Keller related to the court how this included Wilson driving past her house, leaving voicemails, and confronting her in-person. "Including lurking around my car when it was parked at the state capitol Saturday, taking photos of me while I was in my car, driving to my house on Monday and again last night, as witnessed by the Seattle Police," Keller explained in a statement obtained by FOX 13 Seattle. The situation has led to a vote of no confidence by the King County Council, and calls for Wilson to resign from his role and cease his campaign. Wilson has posted in response, "I will NOT resign."
Keller described an escalating pattern of harassment that has drastically affected her life, as per a report by KOMO News. "I'm afraid to leave my home. I'm afraid of grocery stores. I am afraid when I attend events for business," Keller told KOMO News. This fear was echoed in her decision to avoid locations where Wilson might appear, but she lamented her inability to truly escape his presence.
While no criminal charges have yet been filed against Wilson, King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci voiced her disapproval, stating, "This is an escalation with him being arrested and put in the King County Jail, but it is not acceptable and it hasn't been acceptable for a long time," as reported by KOMO News. Additionally, King County Executive Shannon Braddock called for Wilson's immediate resignation, emphasizing the need for officials to respect everyone and uphold public trust.
According to records, Wilson was booked into the King County Jail and is expected to appear back in court on July 8 for a potential criminal charge hearing. As mentioned by The Seattle Times, the case will likely move to the Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to prevent any conflict of interest, given Wilson's position as an elected official and his candidacy for another office.
