Democratic Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner on Monday mentioned he is taking “time to mirror” on his marketing campaign’s path ahead after a lady accused him of sexually assaulting her in 2021.
Platner, 41, and his marketing campaign denied the accusations made by 41-year-old Maine resident Jenny Racicot in a Politico article revealed Monday. Politico reported that she accused Platner of sexual assault. Platner is a Marine veteran and oysterman who rocketed to his get together’s nomination this 12 months on a populist, progressive message.
In a video posted to X minutes after the Politico story was revealed, Platner denied the reporting however mentioned the marketing campaign is “taking the time to mirror on one of the best path ahead” as he challenges incumbent Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, for a hotly contested seat.
“I wished to instantly handle the troubling, severe, and false allegations towards me. Any accusation of non-consensual habits is categorically false,” Platner mentioned. “This motion we’ve got constructed — the biggest volunteer base within the historical past of Maine politics, the a whole bunch of hundreds of grassroots donors, the supporters throughout the ideological spectrum — we have been united in a love of Maine, a perception that our politics should change and a give attention to defeating Susan Collins.”
Platner didn’t say he would drop out of the marketing campaign, although stress to take action is nearly sure to return. Platner defeated Maine’s incumbent Gov. Janet Mills within the June Democratic major.
Racicot informed Politico that she had an on-again, off-again relationship with Platner for 2 years earlier than he entered her house uninvited in 2021 whereas intoxicated and compelled himself on her over her objections. Racicot mentioned she remembered Platner “grabbing my pelvis and being actually forceful of me,” and that she lower off communication with him after.
Politico corroborated Racicot’s account with a person she started relationship after Platner, together with a pal and acquaintance. She additionally shared correspondence together with her therapist with the publication.
The allegations are the most recent in a string of accusations of malfeasance by Platner, which have rocked Democrats who’re desirous to defeat Collins in Maine. Former Vice President Kamala Harris received Maine by practically 8 factors in 2024, and profitable the state’s Senate seat is important to any Democratic hopes of profitable again the Senate in 2026.
The New York Occasions in June reported that a number of ladies who dated Platner recalled “unsettling” habits, however that article didn’t embody an accusation of sexual assault. That article included a chunk of Racicot’s story, however mentioned she “declined to elaborate” about what occurred after he confirmed as much as her home drunk.
Platner additionally had a tattoo that carefully resembled a Nazi image coated up earlier within the marketing campaign, after images of the tattoo turned public. He mentioned he received the tattoo whereas serving within the Marines and denied figuring out its Nazi connotations.
Platner has repeatedly leaned on his story of navy service and ensuing PTSD to elucidate his prior habits.
Maine regulation states {that a} candidate for a normal election can drop out by the second Monday in July and get replaced, giving Platner till July 13 to give up or keep the course. Maine Democrats would then have to discover a alternative for Platner by July 27, per Maine regulation.
Requires Platner to desert his candidacy are already coming in from Democrats.
Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., was an early endorser of Platner’s marketing campaign. In a Monday assertion to CNBC, he mentioned: “These are very severe allegations and they need to be handled as such.”
Donna Brazile, a former Democratic Nationwide Committee chair, mentioned in an X put up that it’s “time for Mr. Platner to step apart and get replaced by July thirteenth.”
“Platner wants time to heal, give attention to his household and well-being. Sufficient. Sufficient,” she mentioned.
David Axelrod, who ran former President Barack Obama’s marketing campaign, additionally mentioned on X that “the most recent allegation of sexual assault cannot be defined away or excused.”
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