Seattle Now Wednesday Evening Headlines
Feb 5, 2026
A roundup of local political maneuvering around Seattle’s U.S. attorney and questions about intensified immigration enforcement. Bill Gates addresses emails tied to Epstein. A Seattle firm’s plan for orbital data centers raises space-congestion concerns. Scientists seek federal protection for shrinking Olympic marmot populations.
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Workaround Keeps U.S. Attorney In Place
- The Trump administration kept Charles Neal Floyd as U.S. attorney by changing his title rather than winning Senate confirmation.
- Senator Patty Murray blocked his confirmation over his immigration detention bond denials, prompting a federal court appointment later in spring.
Concerns Over Aggressive Immigration Recruitment
- Rep. Emily Randall criticized a DHS recruitment described as a "wartime" strategy and questioned who is being targeted.
- The ICE-OUT Act to ban hiring former ICE agents in Washington failed, but may return depending on enforcement changes.
Gates Denies Claims In Epstein Emails
- Emails in the Epstein files allege Bill Gates had an affair and an STI, which Gates calls false and regrets his association with Epstein.
- Gates says he met Epstein to solicit donations and doesn't know why Epstein made the claims.