Fain Rape Investigation Called Off By Senate Democrats

RENTON, WA - Senate Democrats will suspend a planned investigation of outgoing state Sen. Joe Fain, R-Renton, who was accused earlier this fall of raping a woman in 2007. The suspension of the investigation comes after several Republican Senators called the Fain investigation a "partisan witch hunt."

In a letter to Republican Caucus Chair Randi Becker on Tuesday, State Sen. John McCoy, D-Tulalip, blamed Republicans for forcing the suspension of the Fain investigation.

"Regrettably, the investigation cannot continue without your caucus’ good faith participation and the only option at this point is for the Secretary of the Senate to suspend the process of hiring an investigator," McCoy wrote.

Candace Faber, a former city of Seattle employee, on Sept. 27 went public with a claim that Fain raped her in a D.C. hotel room in 2007. Fain denies the claim, but did ask for a full investigation. A D.C. Metropolitan police spokesman told Patch in October that Faber would have to file a complaint to trigger a police investigation - although she has said she's unwilling to do that.

Faber came forward with her accusation after watching Christine Blasey Ford testify about how now-Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh assaulted her at a high school party in the 1980s.

Fain narrowly lost his reelection bid to Renton businesswoman Mona Das. Fain remains in office until Jan. 14.

Image via Washington state Legislature