Christine Gregoire, the former Washington state governor, and Ana Mari Cauce, the current University of Washington president, were contacted as references for former state Sen. Joe Fain during his hiring process as Bellevue Chamber of Commerce CEO.

Fain served two terms as a Republican state senator from Auburn before he lost his 2018 re-election to Democrat Mona Das. About a month before Election Day, Fain was accused of a rape dating back to 2007 by Candace Faber, a former Seattle city official.

Fain has denied the allegation and called for an investigation. Faber also called for an investigation, though she did not make a police report. The state Senate authorized such an investigation late last year, but canceled it after Fain lost his race.

On Feb. 14, the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce announced it had hired Fain as its new CEO. Spokespersons for both Gregoire and Cauce confirmed that the two leaders had served as references during the hiring process.

"President Cauce has known Joe Fain for many years and when the chamber contacted her she spoke about what she had firsthand knowledge about, such as his work in the Legislature and as an advocate for higher education," Michelle Ma, a spokesperson for Cauce, said by email.

Cauce had been contacted by the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce in late January, Ma said — roughly four months after the rape accusation became public.