{"id":2166,"date":"2026-07-09T05:24:41","date_gmt":"2026-07-09T00:24:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=2166"},"modified":"2026-07-09T05:24:41","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T00:24:41","slug":"graham-platner-drops-out-of-maine-senate-race-after-rape-claim","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=2166","title":{"rendered":"Graham Platner drops out of Maine Senate race after rape claim"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<br \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F2%2F2026%2F07%2Fnewspress-collage-l0yfjmev0-1783377988953.jpg?quality%3D90%26strip%3Dall%261783363631\" \/><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>WASHINGTON \u2014 Accused rapist Graham Platner dropped out of his Maine Senate race on Wednesday <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/07\/06\/us-news\/graham-platner-ex-accuses-him-of-rape-very-drunk-and-wouldnt-take-no-for-an-answer\/\">in the wake of bombshell sexual assault allegations<\/a> that forced leading Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, to yank their support of him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe believe that for the movement to continue, it can\u2019t be me. And for that reason we are suspending campaign operations,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/grahamformaine\/status\/2075009677495058687?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Platner said in a video announcement<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The announcement comes after a woman he previously dated, Jenny Racicot, publicly alleged that he drunkenly raped her at her Maine home in 2021 despite her repeated pleas to stop. Platner called the allegations false. <\/p>\n<p>Platner had until <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/07\/06\/us-news\/maine-dems-can-still-dump-graham-platner-as-long-as-he-makes-a-key-deadline\/\">July 13 to bow out of the closely watched race<\/a> for Democrats to be able to easily replace him as the party battles for control of the upper chamber.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Democrat Graham Platner has dropped out of the Maine Senate race after a bombshell rape accusation from his ex-girlfriend. <span class=\"credit\">AP Photo\/Robert F. Bukaty<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Platner\u2019s ex, Jenny Racicot, publicly alleged that the Senate hopeful drunkenly raped her at her Maine home in 2021. <span class=\"credit\">CNN<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>He vehemently denied the rape accusations against him but <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/07\/06\/us-news\/graham-platner-mysteriously-cancels-multiple-maine-senate-campaign-events-as-key-deadline-approaches\/\">canceled his scheduled appearances<\/a> and said he was contemplating his path forward.<\/p>\n<p>Just hours after the latest claims, Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)<a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/07\/06\/us-news\/schumer-and-gillibrand-call-on-graham-platner-to-immediately-withdraw-from-maine-senate-race-after-rape-allegation\/\"> issued a joint statement denouncing Platner.<\/a><\/p>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-primary-tag\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cThe allegations reported today are incredibly disturbing \u2013 violence, abuse and sexual assault are absolutely unacceptable,\u201d it said. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cGraham Platner needs to immediately withdraw as the Democratic nominee for Senate and allow Maine Democrats the opportunity to choose a new candidate who can defeat Susan Collins. The DSCC [Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee] will not invest in the Maine Senate race if Platner remains on the ballot.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Democratic US Senate candidate Graham Platner, right, and his wife Amy Gertner, left, speak to a security guard outside his home in Sullivan Maine Tuesday, July 7, 2026. <span class=\"credit\">Robert Miller for NY Post<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Throughout his campaign, Platner had survived a steady string of scandals and repeatedly insisted to the public that he didn\u2019t have any more skeletons in his closet before more bombshells dropped. <\/p>\n<p>He\u2019s been accused of sexting other women while married, lying about a since-removed Nazi tattoo and being unfaithful to girlfriends and<a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/06\/04\/us-news\/graham-platner-told-bizarre-fantasies-about-raping-home-invaders-ex-girlfriend-claims\/\"> contemptuous of women.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Maine is widely seen <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/06\/09\/us-news\/scandal-magnet-graham-platner-clinches-dem-nod-for-maine-senate\/\">as a must-win race for Democrats <\/a>in order to retake control of the Senate.<\/p>\n<p>Most Democrats had stood by Platner throughout nearly all the scandals that emerged against Platner, and he won his primary last month nonetheless. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>The Post\u2019s June 5 cover on Platner\u2019s scandals.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>But the rape accusations, first <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2026\/07\/06\/graham-platner-sexual-assault-allegation-00987737\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">reported by Politico<\/a>, proved to be a death knell for his candidacy.<\/p>\n<p>Racicot described in disturbing detail how an \u201calmost blackout drunk\u201d Platner entered her home without permission one night in 2021 after she texted him that she didn\u2019t want to see him.<\/p>\n<p>In graphic detail, she recounted how she repeatedly rebuffed him, but he followed her into the bedroom and ejaculated in her.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>The profile picture the horny oyster farmer used on Kik, an anonymous platform with a reputation for hookups. <span class=\"credit\">Obtained by NY Post<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cAnd, the look on his face and realizing what was happening, I just realized that, like, I am in a situation where there\u2019s no consent here,\u201d she told Politico.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Here\u2019s the latest on the bombshell sexual assault allegations against lefty Senate candidate Graham Platner<\/strong>:<\/h2>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<p>\u201cOne of the reasons I didn\u2019t come forward sooner was, the huge moral conflict that I had between supporting his politics, but not supporting him as a person,\u201d Racicot told the outlet. \u201cI just want the truth out there. I just want people to have a whole scope of who he is as a person.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>The rape accusations, first reported by Politico, proved to be a death knell for his candidacy. <span class=\"credit\">Robert Miller for NY Post<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Asked by CNN whether she was alleging that he raped her, Racicot responded: \u201cBy definition, yes, absolutely yes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ahead of the July 13 deadline, Democratic operatives scrambled to get as much dirt on Platner to the public as part of an apparent pressure campaign to force him out of the race. <\/p>\n<p>The nonprofit group Reckoning Action, which was founded by progressive lawyer Cheyenne Hunt, got in contact with Racicot, according to Politico. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Platner seen with his wife Amy Gertner at a primary election night watch party in Blue Hill, Maine on June 9, 2026. <span class=\"credit\">AP Photo\/Robert F. Bukaty<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Hunt endorsed Platner late last year, but backed off after accusations of him being rough with women were reported by the New York Times last month. Hunt also backed women who made accusations against disgraced former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.)<\/p>\n<p>Platner had defied the Democratic establishment by taking down Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) in a primary and clinching the nomination last month, despite fears that there was more to come out about him. Mills suspended her campaign in April, weeks before the primary contest took place. <\/p>\n<p>Ahead of the primary, Platner was hit with accusations from multiple past girlfriends who accused him of troubling behavior.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Platner\u2019s ex-girlfriend Lyndsey Fifield (pictured) accused the Senate candidate of physical abuse. <span class=\"credit\">Instagram\/@lyndseyfifield<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>One of the women, Lyndsey Fifield, claimed that he once twisted her arm behind her back before trapping her in a room and, at another point, yanked her out of a cab by the wrists.<\/p>\n<p>Platner denied those accusations, claiming they were \u201cpolitically motivated.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>After Racicot went public with her rape claim, Fifield came forward with yet another shocking allegation against Platner \u2014 that he <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/07\/07\/us-news\/graham-platners-ex-girlfriend-alleges-maine-dem-would-sneakily-pull-off-condoms-during-sex\/\">repeatedly removed his condom during sex <\/a>without asking permission. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe would pull condoms off,\u201d Lyndsey Fifield said in an interview with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/2026\/07\/07\/ex-girlfriend-graham-platner-says-he-removed-condoms-without-consent\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Washington Post<\/a>. \u201cHe would do it in a sneaky way. He wouldn\u2019t tell me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI confronted him both during and after [sex] because he knew that I was not on birth control and how dangerous that was,\u201d Fifield added. \u201cHe would act like cute about it, like \u2018Oh sneaky me.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Fifield\u2019s account was corroborated by a friend of her\u2019s, who described how Fifield \u2014 who was not on birth control \u2014 was left \u201cextremely angry about the situation and about what he had done.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Platner\u2019s campaign again told the outlet Fifield\u2019s allegation was \u201ccategorically false and politically motivated.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Fifield and another former flame of his also had private messages with confidants describing Platner\u2019s skull-and-crossbones tattoo as a Nazi symbol long before it was publicly known. <\/p>\n<p>Revelations that <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/06\/04\/us-news\/graham-platner-knew-meaning-of-nazi-linked-totenkopf-tattoo-ex-girlfriend\/\">Platner had a tattoo on his chest resembling a Totenkopf,<\/a> which was used by the Nazi Schutzstaffel or SS. He claims he got that ink while inebriated in Croatia in 2007 and has since covered it up.<a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/07\/07\/us-news\/graham-platners-ex-girlfriend-alleges-maine-dem-would-sneakily-pull-off-condoms-during-sex\/#\"\/><\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Platner\u2019s Nazi \u201cTotenkopf\u201d tattoo seen in a video from his brother\u2019s wedding. <span class=\"credit\">Pod Save America<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Graham Platner inked over the Nazi tattoo. <span class=\"credit\">Instagram \/ Graham for Maine<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Sen. Susan Collins is widely seen as the most vulnerable incumbent Republican senator this election cycle. <span class=\"credit\">GRAEME SLOAN\/EPA\/Shutterstock<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In late May, it emerged that <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/06\/11\/us-news\/graham-platner-cheated-on-fiancee-bragged-about-nazi-tattoo-ex-girlfriend\/\">Platner allegedly cheated on his wife,<\/a> with whom he had tied the knot in 2023, and <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/06\/01\/us-news\/graham-platner-still-has-an-active-account-on-kik-app-where-he-allegedly-sexted-while-married\/\">had an account on Kik<\/a>, an anonymous platform used for hookups. Platner\u2019s profile showed him shirtless with a towel over his waist and his phone blocking the Nazi tattoo.<\/p>\n<p>Ahead of the primary race, his former campaign political director, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/opinions\/2026\/06\/08\/graham-platner-maine-us-senate-primary-bid-sends-dubious-message\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Genevieve McDonald, penned a blistering Washington Post op-ed<\/a> telling Maine voters that Platner was unfit to become a senator.<\/p>\n<div class=\"single__inline-module inline-module inline-module--newsletter aligncenter inline-module--nypostbusinessunit aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-newsletter\" data-source-unit=\"Inline Newsletter Module Morning Report\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__inner\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__title-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__unsubmitted-title-wrapper\">\n<h3 class=\"inline-module__title headline headline--combo-sm-md\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tStart your day with all you need to know\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<p class=\"inline-module__cta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMorning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><h3 class=\"inline-module__title headline headline--combo-sm-md\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>On Reddit, <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/05\/24\/us-news\/purple-heart-vet-graham-platner-said-deserved-to-die-slams-dems-backing-him-say-that-to-my-face\/\">Platner previously trashed a Purple Heart veteran,<\/a> defended urinating on dead Taliban fighters, suggested that sexual assault victims should \u201ctake some responsibility,\u201d argued that rural voters are racist, and more.<\/p>\n<p>Whoever Democrats tap to replace him will have to face off against incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who has a history of outperforming polls. <\/p>\n<p>Maine Democrats have promised an \u201copen\u201d and \u201ctransparent\u201d process to choose another candidate for the ballot.<\/p>\n<p>Platner\u2019s team, however, has \u201crepeatedly reached out\u201d to the state party \u201cin an attempt to put their thumb on the scale of what this process looks like,\u201d Maine Democratic Party Executive Director Devon Murphy-Anderson revealed Tuesday. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have repeatedly reiterated to Graham Platner\u2019s team that they have no role in determining our next Democratic nominee for the US Senate, nor in determining what this process looks like,\u201d Murphy-Anderson said in a video <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/MaineDems\/status\/2074653501771194683\">posted on X<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>Prior Murphy-Anderson\u2019s complaint, The Post reported that Platner was refusing to bow out of the race unless he was given the chance to approve his successor. <\/p>\n<p>A source familiar with the campaign discussions said Platner, his campaign and political strategist Morris Katz were demanding that his replacement share his left-wing values.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>WASHINGTON \u2014 Accused rapist Graham Platner dropped out of his Maine Senate race on Wednesday in the wake of bombshell sexual assault allegations that forced leading Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, to yank their support of him. \u201cWe believe that for the movement to continue, it can\u2019t be me. And for that reason&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2167,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/newspress-collage-l0yfjmev0-1783377988953.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&1783363631&w=1200","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2166","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-hub"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2166","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2166"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2166\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2167"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2166"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2166"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2166"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}