Free Republic

<p>The following is a letter Rob Galliher wrote in January 2004 and sent to Mic Hunter, a St. Paul, Minn., psychologist and author of "Abused Boys," a book on sex abuse. Galliher said he was looking for help from Hunter when he wrote the letter, which accuses Jim West of sexual abuse. Excerpts from a Spokesman-Review interview with Robert Galliher are published here.</p>

<p>For a quarter century, the man who is now Spokane's mayor has used positions of public trust – as a sheriff's deputy, Boy Scout leader and powerful politician – to develop sexual relationships with boys and young men.</p> <p>In addition, an investigation by The Spokesman-Review has revealed that 17 months after leaving the state Legislature, West has used the trappings of the mayor's office to entice and influence young men he met on a gay Web site.</p>