Republican State Senator Joe Fain Accused Of Rape

RENTON, WA - Republican state Sen. Joe Fain was accused of rape on Thursday by a woman who says she was inspired to come forward by the testimony of Christine Blasey Ford. Candace Faber alleges that Fain raped her in 2007, the night she graduated from Georgetown University.

The allegations were first reported Thursday evening by the Seattle Times, and Fain has denied the allegations. He told the Times he wants a full investigation and asked "everyone to show respect to Ms. Faber and to the process."

Faber initially made the allegation in a tweet on Thursday. She later posted an article on Medium explaining why she chose to make the allegation now.

"Until recently, I withheld my rapist’s name, even in private conversations. I hoped that I could help change the culture of sexual assault without needing to say his name. I no longer believe that to be the case. We cannot heal without accountability," she wrote.

Fain has represented the 47th Legislative District since 2010 and is up for reelection this year. Fain's district includes the cities of Renton, Kent, Auburn, and Federal Way. He is the minority floor leader in the state Senate and sits in the Ways and Means Committee.

Fain isn't the only member of the state Legislature to have been accused of sexual assault recently.

This week, the Northwest News Network interviewed a woman who claimed she had a sexual relationship with state Rep. Matt Manweller, R-Ellensburg, when she was a high school student. Manweller has agreed to resign office if he wins reelection in November. He was also accused of inappropriate sexual misconduct while he taught at Central Washington University.

In June, an investigation found that state Rep. David Sawyer, D-Tacoma, harassed women in Olympia and sent others inappropriate text messages. Sawyer is still in office, but he failed to make it through the August primary election.

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