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.
I wouldn’t be proud of this display of ignorance. If you’re active politically, you should know hate signs. This hate sign is the 3rd most recognizable Nazi symbol.
It’s not a coincidence that a Nazi rapist murderer has a Nazi tattoo.
Not everyone knows everything. To be afraid of being ignorant is silly. I’m not embarrassed about saying I don’t know something, and if you are, that says more about you than it does me. I will learn and know for next time.
Great reply. No notes.
Yeah, I also think it’s completely fair to criticize me for not knowing something. Seriously, if I don’t know something, feel free to let me know because how else am I gonna learn it if I don’t know?
Like, I don’t want it to sound like I’m making a joke, I’m not a genius, I can’t recognize every warning sign for what it is, I don’t know a whole lot about a whole lot, and a lot of my knowledge is learned by people telling me something, me researching a few things pretty casually, and me thinking about a few things. I’ve unlearned several things I thought was true, and I might even have to unlearn some of those when I find out that’s wrong. I don’t want you to think that’s a point of pride, I want the pride to be that I’m open to being wrong, and I’m going to defend what I think is right against what I think is wrong.
So, like, open season for you. Have at.