Democratic Maine Senate Candidate Graham Platner on Monday shared a video to social media and said he will be taking time to “reflect” on his campaign’s “best path forward” after new allegations surfaced.
The video follows a woman who previously dated Platner coming forward with allegations that the Senate hopeful sexually assaulted her five years ago.
“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 for the state that I love, the people that I love, the movement I belong to, and the goal of defeating Susan Collins,” Platner said.
Jenny Racicot, 41, told Poltico in a series of interviews that she and Platner had an on-and-off relationship over two years until Platner drunkenly entered her home uninvited and forced himself on her. Platner denied the allegations in a post on Monday evening.
“Any accusation of nonconsensual behavior is categorically false,” Platner said in a video posted to X.
The report comes after Platner canceled a series of campaign events in Maine with no clear explanation. Platner has faced several other controversies on the campaign trail, including having to address his now-covered-up skull tattoo resembling Nazi SS imagery, previous controversial social media posts he has made, and allegations of concerning behavior he has reportedly displayed in past romantic relationships.