Maine Democratic Senate candidate Platner faces calls to withdraw after sexual assault allegation

 

Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner is facing calls to withdraw from the race after an allegation of sexual assault published Monday.

Platner called the allegation "categorically false" and said he is "taking the time to reflect on the best path forward."

In a Politico report, Jenny Racicot, a former girlfriend, alleged that Platner, while they were dating five years ago, forced her into having sex without her consent after she had repeatedly called for him to stop.

ABC News has not confirmed the contents of the Politico story.

In the wake of the report, the Maine Democratic Party called on Platner to withdraw from the race."Over the past several weeks, multiple women have made serious, credible allegations against Graham Platner. Today's statements take those allegations even further," party Chair Charlie Dingman, Vice Chair Imke Schessler and Exective Director Devon Murphy-Anderson said in a joint statement. "Maine Democratic Party leadership is calling on Graham Platner to withdraw as the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate. The Maine Democratic Party leadership stands with women and survivors, and that principle does not bend based on party affiliation. We respect the women who made the hard decision to come forward. Speaking up is often costly."

Some high-profile Democrats also withdrew their endorsements.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who chairs the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, called on Platner to withdraw and said the committee would not invest in the race if Platner doesn't.

"The allegations reported today are incredibly disturbing -- violence, abuse and sexual assault are absolutely unacceptable. Graham Platner needs to immediately withdraw as the Democratic nominee for Senate and allow Maine Democrats the opportunity to choose a new candidate who can defeat Susan Collins," Schumer and Gillibrand wrote.

Rep. Ro Khanna of California also urged Platner to drop out of the race. 

I've been very clear that sexual assault or violence against women is a red line. These allegations are very serious and credible. Graham Platner should drop out from the race. I am withdrawing my endorsement," Khanna said in a post on X.

Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego announced that he was withdrawing his endorsement.

"The allegations against Graham Platner are troubling and deeply serious. I am rescinding my endorsement," Gallego said in a post on X.

Racicot spoke to the New York Times about her relationship with Platner ahead of Maine's June 9 primary. She told Politico that she spoke to the Times off the record about the incident. She is now going on the record with the alleged assault. 

Racicot said in the Politco story that she shares Platner's politics, which was, in part, why it took her time to share her allegation.

In a written statement released on Monday afternoon, Platner's campaign said, "These allegations are very serious and Graham vigorously denies them. They are also coached and coordinated by out of state establishment operatives."

Platner has faced a number of scandals since he launched his campaign, including sending sexually explicit texts to multiple women and a tattoo with Nazi symbolism. He said he didn't know his tattoo had a Nazi association and covered it up when he learned about it.

"For a year, opponents of this campaign have thrown everything they can at Graham -- calling him a Nazi, a war criminal, and a communist," the campaign statement said. "None of it has been true and this is no different. 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. 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."

Platner's Republican opponent, incumbent Sen. Susan Collins, said the allegations against Platner are "appalling," but said, "Nevertheless, it is not up to me to choose the Democratic nominee for Senate."

Platner still has some time to withdraw from the Senate race if he decides to. If a candidate withdraws "on or before 5 p.m. of the 2nd Monday in July preceding the general election," a political committee would be able to make a replacement nomination, according to Maine statute. 

That means Platner would have to withdraw before July 13 at 5 p.m. in order for the party to replace him for the general election. The party would have until July 27 to nominate a replacement.

If a candidate withdraws after that July 13 deadline, the party does not have any way to nominate a replacement.

That means if Platner withdrew after that date, Democrats would not be able to field a candidate for Senate -- which would be a boon to Republicans, as Collins would likely face only relatively unknown third-party or independent candidates.

ABC News' Lauren Peller contributed to this report.