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Rape allegation rocks Maine
Maine Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner faced calls to withdraw after Jenny Racicot, 41, accused him of sexual assault in a series of interviews with Politico, saying he entered her home uninvited and sexually assaulted her in 2021.
“Top Democrats press Maine Senate candidate to drop out of race over sexual assault allegation Top Democrats are calling for Graham Platner, Maine's Democratic candidate for the US Senate, to drop out of the race after a woman he previously dated accused him of sexual assault”
Platner denied the allegation, calling it "categorically false", and said he was "taking the time to reflect on the best path forward" in the race that is pivotal to Democrats' chances of gaining control of the Senate.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said in a statement that "The allegations reported today are incredibly disturbing – violence, abuse and sexual assault are absolutely unacceptable."
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee said it "will not invest in the Maine Senate race if Platner remains on the ballot", as the race heads toward November's congressional elections against Republican Susan Collins.
Under Maine law, Platner must withdraw by 13 July for his name to be removed from the state's ballot and be replaced by another candidate's.
Endorsements unravel fast
After Politico published the allegation, prominent Democrats and Maine party leadership urged Platner to step aside, including Rep. Ro Khanna, who said "Graham Platner should drop out from the race. I am withdrawing my endorsement".
Sen. Bernie Sanders said he had spoken with Platner about the "best path forward for Maine" and recommended he "step aside" in light of the "very serious allegations."
CNN reported that Lyndsey Fifield, a former girlfriend, described alleged violence and said she was heartened by the broad calls to drop out after Racicot's accusation.
Fifield told CNN, "I’m grateful and I’m glad and I hope that finally this was enough," while Platner’s campaign called her allegations "categorically false" and said they come "from a person with a well-documented political agenda."
Deadline and replacement stakes
As the deadline approached, NBC News said Platner was denying the allegation while taking "time to reflect on the best path forward" and noted that several prominent supporters revoked their endorsements.
“A former girlfriend of Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner who had previously accused him of violence told CNN she was heartened that he was facing broad calls to drop out of the race after another woman accused him of rape”
The BBC reported that Platner is set to take on incumbent senator Republican Susan Collins in November's congressional elections, with the Maine race described as one of several pivotal to Democrats' bid to flip control of the Senate.
The Hill reported that Racicot told CNN’s Jake Tapper that she considered what happened to be rape, answering, "By definition? Yes, absolutely."
CBS News said the DSCC and Maine Democratic Party leadership urged Platner to "immediately withdraw" and warned that "The DSCC will not invest in the Maine Senate race if Platner remains on the ballot," setting up a scramble for a replacement nominee.
If Platner withdraws, the Maine Democratic Party would have until July 27 to select a replacement nominee, according to The Hill’s description of the state timeline.
