Platner says 'taking time reflect' on campaign after sexual-assault allegation by woman he dated

Maine Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner said Monday he's  "taking the time to reflect’ on his candidacy," following an allegation from a woman whom he once dated that he sexually assauted her. 

Jenny Racicot, 41, spoke to Politico, in which she detailed the alleged conduct. Racicot alleges that she maintained an intermittent relationship with Platner and that he arrived at her home one evening in 2021 intoxicated, where he allegedly forced her to have sex with him.

“I remember the specific moment where I thought to myself, like, ‘This is no longer my choice," she said. She further stated that she had hesitated to bring the allegations to the public because she supported Platner's left-wing politics.

Platner is denying the accusation.

“These allegations are troubling, serious, and false. Any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically untrue,” Platner told the outlet. Platner's campaign also insisted that "out of state establishment operatives" had coached Racicot into making her statements,

His campaign had already been challenged by reports of toxic behavior toward ex-girlfriends and a history of sexually explicit texts sent to women early in his marriage.

The new accusations come the same day that Platner canceled several campaign events and reports that he may drop out of the Senate race began to appear.

Platner defeated Gov. Janet Mills for the nomination. He faces GOP Sen. Susan Collin in the general election.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent for Just the News. Follow him on X.