Woman calls on Gov. Inslee, lawmakers to investigate rape allegation against state senator

Candace Faber, the Seattle woman who said last month that state Sen. Joe Fain had raped her in 2007, is calling on Gov. Jay Inslee and other lawmakers to launch an investigation.

Sen. Joe Fain has denied the allegation, but declined to answer detailed questions from KUOW — out of respect, he has said, for a future investigation. Sen. Fain has said multiple times over the last month that he would welcome such an investigation and has urged respect for Faber in public comments.

But no investigation has surfaced. On Thursday afternoon, Faber asked her followers on Twitter to call Gov. Jay Inslee, their representatives in the state legislature and the King County Council to pursue questions of Fain.

Fain's personal spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Last week, an attorney representing Faber pro bono sent a letter to the governor's office to "welcome the opportunity to sit down with you and other local leaders to discuss the manner in which an investigation that is fair to all parties may occur."

Jaime Smith, communications director for Gov. Inslee, said that her office had spoken to attorney Cheryl Snow and discussed options for an investigation. Inslee's office also shared Snow's contact information with members of the state senate.

"Now that Sen. Fain has persisted in remaining silent for four weeks, and it is clear that my word is not enough, it is evident that an investigation is necessary," Faber told KUOW.

Fain is currently running for re-election to the state senate. In the primary, he won an eight-point lead over Democratic challenger Mona Das.

Sen. Ann Rivers (R-La Center) told KUOW earlier this month that Senate Republicans were discussing options about a possible investigation, but said that an "optimal" investigation would come from police in Washington, D.C. Faber, however, has not filed a criminal complaint.

Brad Hendrickson, the secretary of the Senate, told KUOW on Tuesday that he had no new information about state senate lawmakers pursuing an investigation.