Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner says he is pausing to “reflect” on the “best path forward” after a new sexual assault allegation was reported by POLITICO. In a statement posted Monday, Platner directly addresses what he calls “troubling, serious and false” allegations, and he denies the account. Multiple outlets report that a woman identified as Jenny Racicot alleges that Platner entered her home in late 2021 and forced her to have sex; Platner disputes the claim.
After the allegation became public, Democrats and progressives called for Platner to step aside from his campaign. Rep. Ro Khanna, among others, says sexual assault or violence against women is a “red line” and urged action. Other reports note that Platner’s statement did not clearly specify whether he will remain in the race, instead focusing on taking time to consider his next move. Coverage across outlets centers on the timeline: POLITICO publishes the allegations, Platner issues a denial and pause statement, and lawmakers and party figures respond with calls for him to withdraw.
