A new sexual assault allegation involving Maine Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner is reported by Politico, prompting additional coverage across multiple outlets. Politico says a woman who dated Platner nearly five years ago—identified in some reports as Jenny Racicot, 41—alleges that Platner forced her to have sex after she told him to stop. The claim is described as occurring in 2021, with Racicot detailing the incident in interviews conducted over a two-week period. CBS News and PBS NewsHour similarly report that the accusation centers on non-consensual sex following repeated objections.
Platner denies the allegations, according to outlets including the Daily Caller and Daily Signal. After the new report, PBS NewsHour says his campaign is assessing “the best path forward.” The Guardian also reports that Platner denies the allegation, and notes he has faced other controversies. Across sources, the main points of agreement are the existence of Politico’s report, the allegation of forced sex, the candidate’s denial, and the campaign’s response while it considers next steps.
