Graham Platner drops out of Maine Senate race in light of rape accusations
WASHINGTON — 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.“We believe that for the movement to continue, it can’t be me.And for that reason we are suspending campaign operations,” Platner said in a video announcement.
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.
Platner had until July 13 to bow out of the closely watched race for Democrats to be able to easily replace him as the party battles for control of the upper chamber.He vehemently denied the rape accusations against him but canceled his scheduled appearances and said he was contemplating his path forward.Just hours after the latest claims, Schumer and Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) issued a joint statement denouncing Platner.“The allegations reported today are incredibly disturbing – violence, abuse and sexual assault are absolutely unacceptable,” it said.
“Graham 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.”Throughout his campaign, Platner had survived a steady string of scandals and repeatedly insisted to the public that he didn’t have any more skeletons in his closet before more bombshells dropped.
He’s been accused of sexting other women while married, lying about a since-removed Nazi tattoo and being unfaithful to girlfriends and contemptuous of women.Maine is widely seen as a must-win race for Democrats in order to retake control of the Senate.Most Democrats had stood ...