Chuck Schumer Urges Graham Platner To Drop Out After Sexual Assault Allegations

Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Graham Platner faced mounting pressure to exit Maine’s Senate race after a Politico report accused him of sexual assault, and Platner insisted the allegation is "categorically false" while saying his campaign is reflecting on "the best path forward."

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and the leadership of the Maine Democratic Party urged Platner to drop out Monday, and Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said the DSCC "will not invest in the Maine Senate race if Platner remains on the ballot."

ABC News

The allegations described by Jenny Racicot, a Maine woman who told Politico that Platner entered her home without permission in late 2021 when he was drunk and forced himself on her, were also expanded in a CNN interview where she alleged Platner raped her "by definition."

Platner denied the allegations, calling them "troubling, serious and false," and in a video posted to X he said, "Regardless of the inaccuracy of the reporting, but mindful of the political reality it will inflict, we are taking the time to reflect on the best path forward."

As calls for Platner’s withdrawal grew, Sen. Ruben Gallego rescinded his endorsement, calling the latest allegations "troubling and deeply serious," while Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna said, "I've been very clear that sexual assault or violence against women is a red line."

CNN and Politico reported that a woman told them Platner raped her while he was heavily intoxicated nearly five years ago, and Platner responded that "Any accusation of nonconsensual behavior is categorically false," in a statement and video.

AP News

The Maine Democratic Party also urged Platner to withdraw, and the pressure intensified one week ahead of the July 13 deadline for general election candidates to withdraw from the ballot, with the state Democratic Party then having two weeks to put forward a replacement candidate.

For her part, Republican Sen. Susan Collins denounced the allegations against her Senate rival but refused to weigh in on internal Democratic dynamics, saying, "These allegations are appalling. Nevertheless, it is not up to me to choose the Democratic nominee for Senate."

Maine law gives Platner until July 13 to withdraw for his name to be removed from the state’s ballot, and if he does so the party would have until July 27 to designate a replacement, according to the reporting.

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CBS News said the scramble to find a new Democratic nominee for the key Senate seat would follow if Platner withdraws, and the DSCC’s stance that it would not invest if he remains on the ballot added pressure to resolve the decision quickly.

The race is framed as pivotal to Democrats’ chances of winning the net four-seat gain they need in November to take majority control of the Senate, and NBC News reported that Platner won the Democratic primary on June 9 with more than 70% support.

NBC News also noted that the allegations were not independently verified by the network, and it said Racicot did not comment through a representative, while Platner’s campaign called the claims "coached and coordinated by out of state establishment operatives."