Graham Platner Faces New Allegation
Democratic Maine Senate nominee Graham Platner is facing another major challenge to his campaign after a woman told Politico that he sexually assaulted her during a relationship several years ago.
The report arrived amid growing speculation about Platner's political future, with rumors circulating that his campaign was preparing for another damaging development and that he was considering withdrawing from the race. Those rumors intensified when Politico published an investigation by Jessica Piper and Adam Wren detailing the woman's allegations.
According to the report, Jenny Racicot, a 41-year-old Maine resident, said Platner forced her to have sex with him during an encounter in November 2021. Racicot described the alleged incident during three interviews conducted by Politico over a two-week period.
The outlet also reported that it spoke with a man Racicot later dated, who said she had confided in him about the alleged assault. In addition, Politico said it reviewed emails between Racicot and her therapist, along with messages in which she warned an acquaintance about becoming involved with Platner years before he launched his Senate campaign.
Racicot alleged that Platner arrived at her home intoxicated and forced himself on her despite her repeatedly telling him to stop.
"I remember him grabbing my pelvis and being really forceful of me," Racicot told Politico. "I remember the specific moment where I thought to myself, like, 'This is no longer my choice.'"
Platner's campaign forcefully denied the allegation.
"These allegations are very serious and Graham vigorously denies them," the campaign said in a statement.
The statement went on to argue that the accusations were politically motivated.
"They are also coached and coordinated by out of state establishment operatives. For a year, opponents of this campaign have thrown everything they can at Graham—calling him a Nazi, a war criminal, and a communist. None of it has been true and this is no different."
The campaign also questioned the timing of the report, noting that it was published shortly before the state's ballot deadline.
"It is not a coincidence that this story comes a week before the ballot deadline, just as the previous false allegations came a week before the primary," the statement continued. "Graham began this campaign to fight for a Maine where everyone is treated with dignity and where Mainers are put first, and no amount of desperate smears will stop this movement from seeing that vision through."
The allegations surfaced as Platner's campaign quietly altered its public schedule. Multiple news outlets reported that two campaign events planned for Monday evening were canceled, following the cancellation of another event scheduled for Sunday.
Whether those schedule changes were directly related to the allegations has not been confirmed. As the controversy unfolds, the accusations have added another layer of uncertainty to a Senate race that has become increasingly turbulent in recent weeks.