Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner denied the allegation, but said he would be considering next steps for his campaign.

A woman who previously dated Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner said he drunkenly forced her to have sex after she told him to stop, according to a Politico report released Monday, leading prominent supporters to pull their endorsements and throwing a must-win race for the party into turmoil.

Platner denied the allegation, but said he would be considering next steps for his campaign.

“Regardless of the inaccuracy of the reporting but mindful of the political reality it will inflict, we’re taking the time to reflect on the best path forward,” he said in a video released on social media.

Jenny Racicot, who lives in Maine, told Politico that Platner entered her home in 2021 while drunk and assaulted her. Racicot said she had been in an on-and-off relationship with Platner, but she cut off contact with him after that night and told him the incident wasn’t consensual. A voicemail left at a number listed for Racicot seeking comment did not receive an immediate response.

Platner’s campaign did not immediately respond to an email and phone message from The Associated Press seeking comment.

“Any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically false,” Platner said in his video.

Still, the allegation sparked a flight away from a candidate who has long been controversial. Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat who’d stood by Platner even as the insurgent candidate was hit with prior allegations, said Monday’s was enough. “I’ve been very clear that sexual assault or violence against women is a red line,” Khanna said. “These allegations are very serious and credible. Graham Platner should drop out from the race. I am withdrawing my endorsement.”

Edit: holy shit, these comments are insane.

Regardless of what you believe with this, Platner likely cannot win anymore. He has a week to do the right thing and drop out before he’s fully locked in. If he actually gives any sort of a shit (and doesn’t just want power, like rapists seeking office tend to), he needs to drop out yesterday.

This is the nail in the coffin for his campaign. It’s not time to defend him no matter what, because there’s still a week where a new candidate can be put into place. Instead of being mad at people not wanting to vote for him, you should start vocally supporting another candidate.

  • deathmetaldawgy@lemmy.mlEnglish
    42·
    8 hours ago

    mercenary background is really where the big warning sign is

    I agree. US military background in general is the red flag.

    Rest of your take is weird. There’s no reason to compare the two especially because the man has done both. I don’t know why you would try to reduce a literal murder down to “well it’s not as bad as rape”. If you’ve killed somebody, I never want you near me. Plain and simple. I don’t care why, you’ve ended someone’s life. Same with a rapist, I don’t care if you’ve “changed”. You’re a dangerous person to be around.

    Using that to say murdering foreign children is better is fucking gross dude. Delete this weird ass shit

    • webadict@lemmy.world
      42·
      8 hours ago

      If you murder someone in the defense of yourself or someone else, you’re still a murderer. Like, by definition, you murdered someone. We, as humans, typically excuse murder in these cases. That’s why self-defense is a legal and viable defense for murder. You are still a murderer for it, but it is excused because you did it out of some necessity. They ended someone’s life, but are they dangerous to be around?

      That whole thing doesn’t exist for rape. That’s why it’s a worse crime and not excusable. That’s the point.

      That’s why people are willing to excuse things like being a soldier or having a Nazi tattoo or even being a mercenary, but not raping someone.

      • deathmetaldawgy@lemmy.mlEnglish
        22·
        7 hours ago

        You’re making this argument for someone that murdered fucking kids not in self defense and really annoying and gross. Please go away

        • webadict@lemmy.world
          51·
          7 hours ago

          I’m actually making this argument for the people supporting him, but I don’t think you’re reading my comments, or you would try harder.

            • webadict@lemmy.world
              2·
              4 hours ago

              I apologize for making you read them. I did not consider that you had feelings worthy of hurting, but next time, I will attempt to think of you. I know that when I type, you’re forced to read them, so just pretend that I’m typing Bill Pullman’s speech from Independence Day each time, and that might make things easier. If you are unable to do this, please retrieve a hammer or other blunt instrument and smash all of your phones and computers and other electronics in your local vicinity, and you will find that you can no longer read my comments.