Washington state mayor criticized over past QAnon comments

SEATTLE — A mayor of a small town in Washington state has drawn opposition for comments supporting adherents to QAnon conspiracies. Sequim Mayor William Armacost has previously declared QAnon a “truth movement” and encouraged listeners of a local radio station to watch a YouTube video supporting the online movement, The Seattle Times reported Sunday. QAnon followers advocate conspiracy theories rooted in the baseless belief that former President Donald Trump was fighting deep state enemies and a cabal of Satan-worshipping cannibals operating a child sex trafficking ring. Shenna Younger, a co-founder of a citizens group promoting good governance in Sequim, a community of just over 7,000 residents on the north coast of the Olympic Peninsula, said its 500 active members are concerned about Armacost’s “QAnon ideologies.” “This is not indicative of who we are. “This spotlight is damaging our tourism and our businesses.” The community group believes recalling the mayor would be costly and therefore is focused on replacing three city council members aligned with Armacost in the November election, Younger said.