Progressive Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington questioned Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson’s leadership as officials faced scrutiny over the city’s response to a deadly shooting at a food festival.
Jayapal voiced doubts about the self-described socialist mayor after the July attack at the Bite of Seattle left three people dead and four others injured.
“Give me a ring I’m wondering if we should be there at all,” Jayapal wrote in a series of text
messages to Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson on July 26, according to KOMO News.
“I’m not confident she knows what she is doing.”
The five-term congresswoman appeared to be referring to a news conference that was delayed for five hours before officials addressed the public about the shooting. The victims included two men, ages 19 and 44, and a 56-year-old woman.
During the text exchange, Ferguson encouraged Jayapal to contact Wilson directly rather than rely on him for updates.
City officials faced criticism over the lengthy delay, which left residents without information for hours after the violence erupted outside Seattle Center, near the Space Needle, at about 6 p.m.
The messages between Jayapal and Ferguson were included in a broader release of records from the governor’s office on Wednesday. The documents detail communications among officials following the shooting.
Jayapal, who has represented Washington’s 7th Congressional District, including much of Seattle, since 2017, had been working with Ferguson to obtain information about the attack.
Earlier, the congresswoman had suggested that she be included in any news conference held by Wilson.
“I spoke to her. Suggested that if they are doing a public conference, it would be good if we are all there,” Jayapal wrote to Ferguson, who “agreed.”
Officials held briefing calls between 8 and 9 p.m.
Jayapal later said she had been instructed to stay away from Seattle Center because the site remained an active crime scene.
Ferguson and Jayapal learned about the 11 p.m. news conference at around 10:10 p.m. and rushed to Seattle Center.
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“They’re waiting for both of us,” Jayapal messaged. “I will be there in 15 minutes.”
The governor’s office said Jayapal sent that message at 10:32 p.m., two minutes after Ferguson arrived.
Later reports suggested the news conference had been delayed because “dignitaries” arrived late, without mentioning Wilson’s office as part of the explanation.
“I’m having Rachel call Brian and say this is outrageous that someone said the delay was because of dignitaries. You may want to have your folks do that too,” Jayapal wrote to Ferguson. “We can raise it directly to her too.”
After the governor’s communications were released, Jayapal criticized Wilson’s office over the reported explanation for the delay.
“I spoke to the Mayor on my way to the Seattle Center, and she told me they were awaiting our arrival,” Jayapal told KING5. “Any delay in waiting for the Governor and I to arrive was about a matter of minutes, not hours.”
During the hectic several hours, Jayapal says she thought police were consistently sharing information with the public instead of waiting for the press conference.
Seattle Police shared a single post to X as the shooting unfolded at 6:29 p.m.
“Police are investigating a shooting. Multiple shooting victims. Shots fired at the Seattle Center. More information to come. Please avoid the area,” the post read.
Jayapal, on Thursday, stood by her criticism of Wilson regarding her leadership in the immediate aftermath of the shooting.
“My messages also reflected my serious concerns that no information had been shared with the public prior to this press conference,” she told KING5.
Jayapal’s recollection has been confirmed by police officials who said their department was ready to brief the public but had to wait for Wilson.
“What happened that day was tough. We were ready to go. I was gonna really walk down there and handle it. I did talk to the deputy mayor, just kind of let them know as a courtesy, we’re gonna go down and conduct the interview. And then I was told we needed to wait for the mayor,” Assistant Police Chief Tyrone Davis told the City Council last week, according to KOMO News.
Wilson’s office did not respond to Jayapal’s criticism.
Instead, officials said Wilson was focused on “strengthening public safety communications, reducing gun violence and proposing investments in public safety and well-being.”
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