Seattle City Council approves pay for Councilmember Sawant legal defense over recall efforts

The Seattle City Council on Tuesday approved a bill with a 7-1 vote to fund the legal defense for Councilmember Kshama Sawant against a pending recall charge. The recall charge, which will go before a judge in the King County Superior Court Wednesday, alleges that Sawant has "used her position in violation of the law or has recklessly undermined the safety of others" including giving protesters access to City Hall, leading a march to Jenny Durkan's private residence and encouraging protesters to occupy the area near the Seattle Police Department's Precinct as part of the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest. During the special meeting, several councilmembers suggested their immediate support for the bill, citing how it was customary to provide legal defense to public officials.