Congress Members Demand Seattle Protect Viral Raccoon Jimothy

Two U.S. Congress members — Republicans Anna Paulina Luna and Tim Burchett — have sent an official letter to Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson demanding the protection of a raccoon named Jimothy, who has become an internet sensation. The politicians insist the city must safeguard the animal 'at all costs.'

The concern stems from Jimothy's sudden fame: he went viral earlier this month due to his unusually short and rounded appearance. Experts believe the raccoon suffers from short spine syndrome, a rare condition that compresses the spinal column.

In the letter obtained by TMZ, the lawmakers warn that fame could attract people looking to harm Jimothy or disrupt his daily life. They propose enrolling him in community carnivore monitoring initiatives, including sighting-report platforms and databases to track his movements and well-being.

Additionally, they call for signs and neighborhood outreach wherever the viral critter roams, to prevent his growing fan base from interfering. 'Even a small, resourceful, and cute raccoon deserves protection,' they note.

Luna and Burchett concede they disagree with the Democratic mayor on most political issues, but believe protecting Jimothy should cross party lines. 'Finally, a cause that can unite America!' they joke.

It remains unclear how Seattle's administration will respond, but Jimothy's story has already captured attention from both social media users and high-ranking politicians. The raccoon may soon become a symbol of bipartisan agreement.