Succession fight under way as Bernie Sanders calls for Platner to drop out of Maine Senate race – US politics live | US politics
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Republican leaders try to quell Mitch McConnell’s speculation as rebellion grows
david smith
Republican leaders have moved to quash speculation about former U.S. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell amid a growing outcry over a lack of transparency about his health.
The 84-year-old Kentucky politician led Senate Republicans longer than anyone in history before resigning last year. was hospitalized It was performed on June 14, but his office declined to say what he was being treated for.
The secrecy sparked a backlash from Donald Trump’s support base; Some claimed McConnell’s condition was more serious than thought and accused his office of covering up the incident.
on tuesday John ThuneMcConnell’s successor as Republican leader sought to quell the outrage by claiming to have spoken to McConnell on the phone on Monday. A Thune spokesman said: “They had a lengthy and comprehensive conversation covering a variety of topics, including national security.”
Senate Republican whip John Barrasso Kate Noyes, a spokeswoman for the Wyoming senator, said Tuesday: “Senator Barrasso and Senator McConnell had an extended conversation earlier this afternoon. Their phone conversation lasted approximately 20 minutes.”
Succession battle already underway as Sanders calls for Platner to drop out of Maine Senate race
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While Bernie Sanders is the last key figure to call for the resignation of the scandal-plagued Democratic candidate, the fight to replace Graham Platner is already ongoing.
Sanders, an independent senator from Vermont, called on Graham Platner to drop out of the U.S. Senate race in Maine, citing “very serious allegations” of sexual assault, hours before the embattled candidate faces another round of sexual harassment allegations.
“I spoke with Graham Platner about the best path forward for Maine,” Sanders said in a statement Tuesday. “In light of these very serious allegations, I suggested he step aside.”
Although Platner has denied the latest allegations, reported by Politico and later by the Washington Post, the initial report led a wave of prominent Democrats to urge him to step aside as the party’s nominee in the resulting Senate contest.
But on Tuesday night, chief executive Devon Murphy-Anderson released a video saying the party had developed an “open, inclusive, transparent and fair” process but would not reveal details until Platner had officially withdrawn. He said Platner’s team repeatedly tried to “put their thumbs on the scale.”
“We have repeatedly reiterated to Graham Platner’s team that they have no role in determining our next Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate or in determining what that process will look like,” he said.
In the Politico report published Monday, Jenny Racicot, 41, who was previously with Platner, said he forced her to have sex despite her repeated objections. Racicot He told about his experience Described as rape to CNNThe incident occurred five years ago when Platner was extremely drunk. Platner denied the allegations.
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