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.”



The Democratic establishment would rather lose to Susan Collins than win with an outsider candidate. The fact that Bill Clinton is accepted in polite society and Platner has to be banished demonstrates that sexual scandals are a cudgel to be wielded selectively.
Maybe if the outsider wasn’t a literal rapist Nazi-murderer, you’d have a better chance?
Nobody really knew Clinton was on the Epstein list when he was in office so the worst thing he did in people’s eyes was get a consensual blow job.
You can’t seriously be saying that is as bad as sexual assault (if in fact that’s what happened here).
As for now, most people want Clinton to answer for what he may have done with Epstein.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Clinton_sexual_assault_and_misconduct_allegations#Accusations