Seattle officers fight to keep identities hidden after attending January 6 rally

In Seattle, Washington, current and former police officers are engaged in litigation concerning their participation in the 'Stop the Steal' rally on January 6, 2021. This rally, which took place in Washington, D.C., was associated with the subsequent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The officers are seeking to maintain confidentiality regarding their identities through the use of 'John Doe' pseudonyms, arguing that revealing their names could infringe upon their right to privacy. Recent developments have taken place as the Washington State Supreme Court ruled against their request for anonymity, stating the officers had not sufficiently demonstrated that disclosing their names would violate their privacy rights or that they had not committed any misconduct, thus allowing their identities to be made public record. Lawyers for the officers are now challenging this decision in the United States Supreme Court, emphasizing the potential chilling effect that identifying public servants for their off-duty political activities could have on freedom of speech. Additionally, the Seattle Police Department launched its own investigation post-January 6 to ascertain if any officers violated laws or departmental policies during the rally. The investigation concluded that two officers, Caitlin and Alexander Everett, had crossed police barriers, leading to their termination, while the investigation of other officers resulted in indeterminate findings for one case and confirmation of compliance for three others. As this legal battle unfolds, questions remain concerning the balance between public accountability and the protection of personal identity for those who serve in law enforcement roles.