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.
This is just funny and I would recommend the same to you. Time to do a little research into Politico
Imagine all of your comments having the same amount of upvotes immediately like as if you had multiple accounts. But hey using upvotes in Lemmy would also be a hugely childish way to think you won an argument right?
And because I dont care about the updoots that i wont get and just want to make sure you hear it 1 more time. You can absolutely go get fucked as hard as life can.
Oh hey, the mods came and saved you again! No worries, I'll just repost it:
Must be wild having to rely on the cops coming and saving you from a losing argument, lmao.
Also I don't give a fuck about votes, I just find it hysterical you're getting ratioed on your own liberal hellworld by a socialist. It's telling of how godawful your comments are. And the idea I'm upvoting myself is equally hilarious because votes are public on Lemmy and usually your .world brethren dogpile on socialists.