Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner said Monday he is reconsidering the future of his campaign after a woman who previously dated him accused him of sexual harassment.
Plattner released a video statement shortly after Politico published a report in which his ex-girlfriend Jenny Racicot alleged he forced her to have sex while he was drunk in 2021. Plattner denied the allegation but acknowledged that the political fallout could affect his bid to unseat Senator Susan Collins (R-ME).
“So, despite the inaccuracy of the reporting, but mindful of the political reality of this, we are taking time to consider the best path forward for the state I love, the people I love, the movement I belong to, and the goal of defeating Susan Collins,” Plattner said. “Those were my goals when we started this campaign, and they remain my goals today.”
Plattner said the campaign has built the largest volunteer network in Maine political history and said supporters remained united behind the effort to defeat Collins.
Plattner said, “Throughout all this, you never turned your back on me, and I won’t turn my back on you now.” “Each of you deserve to see that dream come true and to see Suzanne Collins defeated, and we will use every tool at our disposal to do that.”
In the video, Plattner also rejected the allegations against him.
“I wanted to address directly the disturbing, serious and false allegations made against me,” he said. “Any allegations of non-consensual behavior are clearly false.”
Prior to the allegations, Breitbart News reported that a Fox News poll found that the Maine Senate race was highly competitive, with Collins holding a slight lead over Plattner among registered voters, 50 percent to 47 percent.
