Former state senator accused of rape rejected in bid to join KUOW board Catharine Smith September 04, 2025 / 5:31 pm

KUOW’s board of directors Thursday rejected the nomination of former state Sen. Joe Fain to the radio station’s governing body.

His nomination generated controversy with listeners and staff because Fain was accused of rape by a Seattle city employee in 2018 and was the subject of a KUOW investigation into the allegation.

A rising star in the state Republican party at the time, Fain denied the allegations. He lost his second reelection bid that November.

An executive committee of KUOW’s governing body voted on finalists for the board seats, excluding Fain’s name from the approved slate of applicants. The full board will meet again on Sept. 18 for a final vote on a

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