The FBI has searched the home of Spokane Mayor Jim West, seizing his computers and related files, court documents filed today reveal. Documents:
» Search warrant: 338K PDF
» Probable cause affidavit: 2.4M PDF (GRAPHIC CONTENT)
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The FBI obtained the federal warrant to search West’s home in west Spokane after convincing a federal judge that there is probable cause to believe a federal crime has been committed.
The warrant says there is sufficient evidence to believe that West “knowingly and willingly engaged in a scheme to entice others to engage in sexual activity with him through offers and grants of city of Spokane jobs, internships or appointments.”
The search warrant affidavit, signed by FBI special agent Frank Harrill, said the federal investigation suggested West’s solicitation of sex-for-city jobs was performed on a personal computer located at his home at 639 W. Persimmon Lane.
The warrant is based on probable cause suggesting West violated federal public corruption laws, using interstate wire communications.
The search was carried out on July 26, a Tuesday, while West and one of his team of attorneys were present, the court documents say.
West and his attorneys couldn’t be immediately reached for comment.
The federal search warrant is largely based on a series of investigative stories published in The Spokesman-Review, beginning May 5. Portions of the newspaper’s stories are cited in the search warrant affidavit.
Immediately after the first published reports about his conduct appeared, West took a 10-day leave of absence. But he returned to City Hall and has defiantly remained on the job, despite community-wide calls for him to step down.
The City Council passed a resolution calling on West to resign.
The Chamber of Commerce, the Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Republican Party and various business leaders also have publicly urged him to resign.
When a grass-roots recall effort was begun, a Superior Court judge approved a recall election. But West appealed that judge’s ruling, and the case is scheduled to be heard by the Washington State Supreme Court later this month.