King County Assessor John Wilson is facing new legal trouble, with prosecutors charging him this week with two counts of violating a restraining order filed by his ex‑fiancée, Lee Keller. The March 25, 2026 filing marks a sharp escalation in a dispute that has already led to a civil protection order and an arrest last summer. Wilson is still in office, and his current term runs through 2027.
According to KIRO 7, the Seattle City Attorney’s Office filed the criminal charges, while the Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is handling the case because the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office represents the assessor’s office. KIRO 7 reports that Wilson now faces two counts tied to a restraining order obtained by Keller. The alleged violations trace back to Wilson’s July 2025 arrest outside Keller’s Seattle home, when police said he returned to the area while a protection order was in place, as detailed by The Seattle Times.
Court statements and responses
In earlier hearings Keller told the court she was “very concerned about my safety,” according to KIRO 7. Wilson’s attorney, John Palito, has denied any physical assault and told reporters that Keller has said Wilson never assaulted her, the outlet reports. Wilson has previously issued a public apology and pulled back his political ambitions in the wake of the July 2025 incident.
Political fallout
The new charges are reigniting calls for Wilson to leave office. King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci has said it is time for the assessor to resign, a position that aligned with a no‑confidence vote taken last year, according to The Seattle Times. For background on Wilson’s earlier arrest and the related stalking investigation, see stalking‑investigation arrest.
Legal stakes
The case carries more than personal and political risk. The King County Charter says an elective county office becomes vacant on conviction of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude, once that conviction is final. The charter effectively outlines the legal route for removing an elected official from office. Before that becomes more than theoretical, prosecutors still have to prove the alleged restraining‑order violations in court.
What’s next
The case will now move through the Snohomish County system, with prosecutors reviewing evidence and scheduling to be set in the coming weeks, per KUOW. As of March 25, 2026, court dates and arraignment details were not yet available. Requests for comment to the assessor’s office and to the prosecutors involved were not returned by publication.
