Sen. Joe Fain
Sen. Joe Fain WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATURE

During the testimony of Christine Blasey Ford and Brett Kavanaugh Thursday, Candace Faber, a 35-year-old Seattle woman, was inspired to come out about an assault of her own.








The "Senator Fain" Faber refers to is Joe Fain, a member of the Washington State Legislature. In a statement posted on Medium, Faber explains her decision to name her alleged attacker:

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.

Like Dr. Ford, I can no longer remain silent knowing that the man who raped me is in a position to influence the laws that govern my state and impact every woman who lives here. I do not believe that survivors have a civic duty to speak out. I believe that we have a civic duty to believe survivors.

Throughout our history, women who have spoken up about sexual assault have been threatened, defamed, gaslighted, had their character and sanity called into question, and been blocked from opportunities. It is time for that to change.

While this is may be first time Faber has publicly named her alleged rapist, she's written about her sexual assault before. In an essay posted online in June, she wrote, "I believe that our bodies can heal, but that this takes the other parties taking responsibility. I hope we can, as a culture, choose that path forward over the current approach of 'leaving it to the courts,' which only serve to create more harm. Also, while I intentionally do not name my assailant, I will note that he continues to serve in the Washington State legislature. I do not know whether he has assaulted other women as he did me. If you read this, and my story sounds similar to yours, please reach out. I do not aim to take legal action — I believe we need a collective reckoning, not imprisonment of individuals, to achieve justice — but I have found that validation and solidarity with other survivors matters."

In a text message to the Seattle Times, which first reported this story, Fain said: “I absolutely deny what Ms. Faber is accusing me of. Any allegation of this serious nature deserves to be heard and investigated for all parties involved. I invite and will cooperate with any inquiry. I ask everyone to show respect to Ms. Faber and to the process.”

Fain, a moderate Republican, represents the 47th legislative district. He is up for re-election this year, running against Democratic challenger Mona Das. Faber, according to her website, is a writer, communications strategist, and entrepreneur based in Seattle, as well as a 2007 graduate of Georgetown, where she says the assault took place.