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Seattle Mayor’s Staff Cuts Off KOMO Interview Over Questions on Gun Violence and Surveillance

The viral exchange sharpened a local fight over crime cameras versus privacy safeguards.

Overview

  • During a KOMO interview, a staffer cut in as reporter Chris Daniels asked if a recent shooting changed Mayor Katie Wilson’s stance on adding CCTV cameras.
  • On camera, staff directed the exchange by saying to keep questions on topic and that they decide which questions the mayor will answer.
  • Wilson later answered the surveillance question, saying the shooting did not change her view and that CCTV plays a role in public safety.
  • She said the city will complete a data and privacy audit before any expansion to address storage, security, sharing, and access by federal immigration authorities or other bad actors.
  • Video of the cutoff drew wide attention on X, with Fox reporting nearly 1 million views, as right-leaning outlets highlighted Wilson’s democratic socialist identity and past comments about wealthy residents.