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.

    • velma@sh.itjust.works
      125·
      4 days ago

      If shes willing to bring her face to the media why not at this point bring it to court? Or the emails with the therapist, why not show that? With message headers to prove they’re real.

      Platner should sue her at this point and persist.

      Gee whiz, why don’t more rape victims come forward when supposed allies treat them like this?

        • velma@sh.itjust.works
          95·
          4 days ago

          She’s not just saying whatever the fuck she wants. She has evidence as well.

          Questioning the trauma a rape victim is enduring because she isn’t acting the way YOU want her to is gross.

          Even the Epstein victims that got raped by multiple men went to court first.

          No they fucking did not.

            • velma@sh.itjust.works
              12·
              4 days ago

              You have no idea if she has filed a report by this time. You all have no idea how difficult it is to report rape.

              98% of perpetrators never see a court room or jail time.

                • velma@sh.itjust.works
                  12·
                  4 days ago

                  You clearly didn’t actually read any of the articles. She describes the difficulties she faced coming forward.

                  Have you read her account in her words at all or just comment sections?

            • Squirrelanna@lemmy.blahaj.zone
              2·
              4 days ago

              Ain’t no one “going to the courts” first. That’s not even possible with something like this. There are so many steps before you can even touch FOOT in a court, and that’s assuming it even gets there at all. People tell their support network first, be that a family member or a friend.

    • anon_8675309@lemmy.world
      21·
      4 days ago

      You’re right you don’t get it. Thankfully.

      Assuming what she says is true she experienced real trauma. (Not that Tik Tok BS)

      Real trauma physically alters your brain. A physically altered brain does not behave the way people expect it to.

            • Krauerking@lemy.lol
              21·
              4 days ago

              My takeaway is always… The people that raped me didnt change. It doesnt mean that they can’t but they didnt and I could continue to hate them for the pieces of shit they continued to be. I could use my past to add to the pile of the present but at some point we have to stop just letting just the past set a whole picture of people and use the present to define them as well. People are not morally singular unlike what idiots think.

              I am so tired of people thinking they are being helpful by grandstanding punishment for some rape victims arbitrarily where they think they can enact justice rather than building a world for victims to actually get it. Its not yours to have if you are not the victim.

            • chloroken@lemmy.mlEnglish
              22·
              4 days ago

              Wow, nice job sitting there casting dispersion on a rape victim, all because your party is godawful at fielding candidates and you’re desperate.