The New York Times is facing scrutiny over the growing scandal plaguing Democratic Maine Senate hopeful Graham Platner, as some have questioned what its reporters knew, and one of his past accusers insists the paper didn’t work to corroborate her story. Politico published a bombshell report Monday on one of Platner's exes alleging he sexually assaulted her during their relationship.Jenny Racicot claimed that in 2021, a drunk Platner entered her home uninvited and had sex with her despite her repeatedly telling him to stop.
Platner has firmly denied the allegations, which Racicot has said constituted rape. Racicot was one of the women interviewed in the Times' report last month about Platner's "unsettling" behavior.According to the Times, Racicot described "positive memories" she had with Platner but said he "does not respect women" based on comments he made that had surfaced.
The report also appeared to allude to Racicot's sexual assault allegation.DEMOCRATS ABANDON EMBATTLED CANDIDATE GRAHAM PLATNER AFTER RAPE ALLEGATION IMPLODES SENATE BIDDemocratic U.S.Senate candidate Graham Platner.
(Graeme Sloan/Getty Images)"Ms.Racicot also said that in 2021 he arrived at her house drunk, after she had asked him not to come over.
She declined to elaborate, but said she cut off contact soon after that episode and found his behavior 'reckless' and 'unsettling,'" the Times wrote.That paragraph was buried roughly 70 paragraphs into the exposé, and much of the story focused on the conservative politics of another Platner ex-girlfriend, Lyndsey Fifield, who had her own allegations of domestic abuse.However, Racicot told Politico that she did tell The New York Times about her assault claim off the record, not that she declined to elaborate.She said she told the Times she didn't want to go public because she didn't wish to be known as a rape victim."My part of the story was just a read-over," Racicot told Politico about the Times report.
"And the story was Lyndsey, and the...