Graham Platner ends Maine Senate campaign after sexual assault allegation | Maine
Graham Platner, the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Maine, is suspending his campaign following an allegation of sexual assault.
Platner announced his decision in 11 minutes video It was shared on social media Wednesday evening.
“For the movement to continue, I can’t be that person,” he said. “Therefore, we are suspending campaign operations.”
In the video, Platner stood by his claim that the accusation was “in no way true” and was “driven by major forces working against him.” [him] personally”.
“This is all false,” Platner said about the allegations. “What was claimed did not happen. It is not true.”
“I learned about this through press inquiries before I had time to actually respond, before the corporate media system and the political establishment acted as judge, jury and executioner,” he said. “Accusations need to be the beginning of everything, not the end.”
The oyster farmer and veteran sailor, whose populist platform packed town halls, raised millions early in the race and gained enough momentum to force his primary rival, Gov. Janet Mills, to suspend her bid, has been mired in controversy since entering the Senate race last year.
Platner faced renewed scrutiny on Monday following a revelation from a woman who dated him. Allegations in Politico He said he forced her to have sex about five years ago despite repeated objections. Jenny Racicot, 41, said she had an on-and-off relationship with Platner for more than two years. She alleges that in late 2021, an intoxicated Platner entered her home uninvited and forced himself on her. He said he cut off communication after the meeting.
Platner denied the allegations in a video posted on social media on Monday. “Any accusations of non-consensual behavior are categorically false,” he said in a direct-to-camera message. While he called the reporting inaccurate, he said his campaign was “aware of the political reality” that impeachment would “cause.”
Following the report, he added: “We are taking time to consider the best path forward for the state I love, the people I love, and the movement to which I belong.”
But the allegations led Democrats, including Senate leader Chuck Schumer, to call for Platner to withdraw from the race. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the party’s main vehicle for fundraising, recruiting and helping elect Senate candidates, has said it won’t spend money on the Maine race unless Platner withdraws his candidacy.
Platner’s rise, based on anti-oligarchy messages and a populist platform, propelled him to a comfortable primary win after Mills withdrew from the race amid his growing popularity.
But the scandals started early and never stopped. Racist, sexist and homophobic Reddit posts have emerged that the former Marine attributes to post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from his military service. Platner later attempted to thwart opposition investigations by revealing that he had covered a tattoo that closely resembled the Totenkopf, a widely recognized Nazi symbol.
Other reports emerged shortly before the June Democratic primary: First, sexually explicit messages with women outside his marriage, then allegations of abusive and “disturbing” behavior in past relationships. One of the former partners, a Republican operative, claimed that Platner twisted his arm behind his back and held him in a room, and Platner said he knew his tattoo was a Nazi emblem, despite his claims to the contrary. Platner denied the allegations at the time and said they were “politically motivated.”
Democrats saw Maine as a crucial opportunity to win a U.S. Senate seat and regain control of the upper chamber of the U.S. Congress. The party’s nominee will face five-term Republican incumbent Susan Collins.
Platner garnered a number of high-profile endorsements throughout the race. Independent senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont was among the first to support her, followed by Democratic senators Elizabeth Warren, Martin Heinrich and Ruben Gallego. Following the latest allegations, all MPs withdrew their votes.
Platner’s withdrawal triggers a short July 27 deadline for Democrats to choose a replacement candidate under Maine law.
