Melanie Stetson Freeman/The Christian Science Monitor via AP
Within hours of new allegations emerging against Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner, Democrats began throwing him under the bus and revoking their endorsements.
A bombshell report in Politico on Monday detailed accusations from Jenny Racicot, a 41-year-old Maine resident who said she had an on-again, off-again relationship with Platner for more than two years, until he assaulted her. The report details her experience:
He entered her rural Maine home uninvited one night in late 2021, deeply intoxicated, and forced himself on her while she repeatedly told him to stop. She said she cut off contact with him after telling him the encounter was not consensual.
In a video address, Platner vehemently denied the allegations but announced he would be hitting pause on his Senate campaign to “reflect on the best path forward.”
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) was among the first Democratic lawmakers to pull their endorsements of Platner.
“I’ve been very clear that sexual assault or violence against women is a red line,” Khanna wrote on X. “These allegations are very serious and credible. Graham Platner should drop out from the race. I am withdrawing my endorsement.”
In January, MS Now anchor Elise Jordan pressed Khanna on what it would take for him to withdraw his support of scandal-riddled Platner, to which Khanna responded, “If there was some credible accusation or allegation of sexual assault, domestic violence, or rape, I would withdraw my endorsement.”
Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), who is under federal investigation for alleged campaign finance violations, also announced, “I am rescinding my endorsement,” calling the allegations “troubling and deeply serious.”
Gallego previously defended Platner amid May reports that Platner, who is married, had sent sexually explicit texts to women.
“Americans are really, really hurt by the fact that gas is still high. Food is still high. They can’t buy a home. You can’t afford rent,” he told the press. “They’re not going to care about text messages and everything else like that that happened years ago, especially when it was worked out between spouses.”
Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM), who also endorsed Platner, told reporters, “These are very serious allegations and they should be treated as such.”
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