Maine Senate Candidate Graham Platner Considers Next Steps Amid Sexual Assault Allegations

According to a Politico report, Jenny Racicot, a 41‑year‑old Maine resident, said she dated Platner intermittently from 2019 to 2021 and accused him of sexually assaulting her in 2021. Racicot alleged that Platner arrived at her home uninvited, “almost blackout drunk,” and forced sexual intercourse despite her protests. She said he ejaculated without her consent and not being on birth control, and that Platner later claimed no memory of the incident.

In a video message released Monday, Platner called the allegations “troubling, serious, and false.” He added that he and his campaign would “reflect on the best path forward” for his state, supporters, and the effort to defeat incumbent Susan Collins.

“Regardless of the inaccuracy of the reporting, but mindful of the political reality will inflict, we are taking the time to reflect on the best path forward for the state that I love, the people that I love, the movement I belong to, and the goal of defeating Susan Collins,” Platner said in the statement.

Platner won the Democratic primary last month despite a series of controversies and is now set to face Republican Senator Susan Collins. With the ballot deadline approaching in a week, Democrats could still replace him if he chooses to withdraw before the cutoff. His campaign cancelled a series of scheduled events ahead of the Politico report.

Racicot said she provided corroborating evidence to Politico, including recent email exchanges with her therapist describing the assault, accounts from a subsequent partner who said she disclosed the assault in 2023, and Facebook messages from 2023 in which she discussed a date set up with Platner. In the messages she wrote that while “he can be charming and funny… I ended up in a bad situation with him and I will just very politely call him consensually careless at times […] when drunk.”

The alleged assault is the most serious accusation against Platner, who has faced several prior scandals. If he were to drop out, the Democratic Party would have time to replace him on the ballot before the deadline.

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