Seattle officers who attended Jan. 6 rally ask US Supreme Court to keep their identities anonymous
Share and Follow


SEATTLE (AP) — Current and former Seattle police officers who attended President Donald Trump’s “Stop the Steal” political rally on Jan. 6, 2021 at the U.S. Capitol are asking the nation’s highest court to keep their identities anonymous in public court records.

Using “John Doe” pseudonyms, they sued over whether the investigation into their activities should be made public. The Washington State Supreme Court ruled in February that they can be identified and that they haven’t shown that public release of their names violates their right to privacy. The state supreme court denied reconsideration earlier this month and lawyers for the four officers submitted a petition to the U.S. Supreme Court, asking that the names remain protected during their legal challenge.

Four officers who attended events in the nation’s capital on the day of an insurrection claimed they are protected under the state’s public records law. They say they did nothing wrong and that revealing their names would violate their privacy.

In the aftermath of the Jan. 6, 2021 events, the Seattle Police Department ordered an investigation into whether any of its officers who traveled to Washington, D.C. to attend the rally had violated any laws or department policies.

The investigation found that married officers Caitlin and Alexander Everett crossed barriers set up by the Capitol police and were next to the Capitol Building, in violation of the law, prompting Diaz to fire the pair. Investigators said three other officers had not violated policies and the fourth case was ruled “inconclusive.”

Sam Sueoka, a law student at the time, filed records requests seeking disclosure of the investigation’s records for the participating officers.

“We are reviewing the Does’ motion for a stay,” Neil Fox, one of the Sueoka’s attorneys, said in an email to The Associated Press Saturday.

Requiring the officers to use their real names in the litigation would create a chilling effect on voicing unpopular opinions, the petition to the Supreme Court said.

“At its core, this appeal involves whether a government agency can ignore the chilling effect resulting from an employer requiring an employee to disclose their off-duty political activities and attendant impressions or motivations associated therewith, followed by widespread dissemination to those who deliberately seek this information to subject these public servants to vilification without the commission of any misconduct whatsoever,” the petition said.

A response to the petition is due next week on Friday.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Harvard professor says white men get rejected in favor of minorities

Harvard Professor Highlights Challenges White Men Face in Diverse Hiring Practices

A prominent Harvard historian has announced his departure from the prestigious university…
Patriots star Christian Barmore is hit with domestic assault charge

Shocking Turn of Events: Patriots Star Christian Barmore Faces Serious Domestic Assault Charge

Christian Barmore, a prominent player for the New England Patriots, is facing…
Iran launches satellites on Russian rockets as Moscow-Tehran ties deepen

Iran’s Satellite Ambitions Soar with Russian Rocket Boost: Unveiling the Strengthening Tehran-Moscow Alliance

As the United States advocates for peace talks to resolve the conflict…
Trump WITHDRAWS National Guard troops from three Democratic cities

Trump Orders Withdrawal of National Guard Troops from Three Major Cities

Donald Trump has officially pulled the National Guard troops out of the…
Online video reveals alleged animal sexual abuse by Interlachen man

Interlachen Resident Faces Allegations of Animal Abuse Following Disturbing Online Video Release

Authorities have seized two dogs from Brendan Hanes’ residence in Interlachen, Florida,…
Ukrainian beauty queen melts the ice between Trump and Zelensky

Ukrainian Beauty Queen Plays Key Role in Easing Tensions Between Trump and Zelensky

Volodymyr Zelensky managed to win favor with Donald Trump by connecting over…
Europe's skiing 'ghost resorts': How hundreds of slopes lie abandoned due to lack of snow as videos show bare mountains

Unveiling Europe’s Abandoned Ski Resorts: A Haunting Journey Through Forgotten Winter Wonderlands

Hundreds of European ski slopes have been left deserted, transforming into ‘ghost…
'Super' virus surges as experts warn 'we don't know when it will stop'

Unstoppable ‘Super’ Virus Sparks Alarm: Experts Caution on Unpredictable Spread

The United States is currently grappling with a surge in ‘super flu’…