Top Ally Withdraws Support from Graham Platner Amid Rape Allegation

Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner is facing a significant backlash following a serious rape allegation, leading one of his prominent Democratic supporters to withdraw his endorsement and call for Platner to suspend his campaign. The development marks a dramatic turn for a campaign already embroiled in multiple controversies.

Prominent Democrat Rescinds Endorsement

Rep. Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California, announced Monday evening that he was retracting his support for Platner. This decision came in response to a report detailing an accusation of sexual assault made by Jenny Racicot, a 41-year-old Maine resident who previously dated Platner. Racicot alleges that Platner forcibly entered her home in 2021 and engaged in non-consensual sexual activity.

Platner has vehemently denied Racicot’s account. His campaign stated they are currently evaluating their next steps in light of the accusation. However, the seriousness of the allegation prompted Khanna to act swiftly.

“I’ve been very clear that sexual assault or violence against women is a red line,” Khanna stated on social media. “These allegations are very serious and credible. Graham Platner should drop out from the race. I am withdrawing my endorsement.”

A Pattern of Controversy

Khanna’s decision is particularly noteworthy given his sustained support for Platner’s insurgent campaign, which has been a frequent subject of media attention due to various scandals. The California congressman had personally campaigned alongside Platner in June, just before Platner secured the Democratic primary nomination. This campaign stop occurred shortly after another former girlfriend, Lyndsey Fifield, accused Platner of abuse. Platner has also denied these earlier allegations, which were first reported by The New York Times.

Prior to the latest accusation, Platner’s campaign was already under scrutiny for other issues. These included allegations of sending explicit messages to multiple women while married, making offensive statements online over a decade, and displaying a tattoo with Nazi associations for much of his adult life.

Shifting Stances on Past Allegations

Initially, Khanna and many other Democratic lawmakers appeared to downplay the significance of the earlier abuse allegations from Lyndsey Fifield, partly due to her background in Republican politics. Khanna had previously suggested that Platner, a combat veteran dealing with PTSD, deserved a chance at redemption after a difficult past.

In a June interview, Khanna had told CBS News, “Here you have a case of someone who had a dark chapter in his life, was in toxic relationships, was ashamed about it, who served this country, and the Maine voters are saying, ‘Look, let’s give him some grace, and his focus is stopping these wars, and it’s getting national health insurance, and it’s taking on economic inequality.”

Furthermore, Khanna recounted a conversation with Platner in June during an interview with Martha MacCallum. Khanna stated he had directly asked Platner if there were any credible sexual assault allegations that had not yet come to light. According to Khanna, Platner assured him there were none. “I made it clear that, for me, is a red line,” Khanna told MacCallum. “And he said, no, there is not.”

Khanna distinguished between the alleged consensual but inappropriate texts sent while Platner was married – a matter he felt was between Platner and his wife, who had publicly forgiven him – and allegations of abuse or assault, which he considered a fundamentally different and more serious issue.

Other Allies Distance Themselves

Khanna was not the only prominent figure to distance himself from Platner following the new sexual assault accusation. Senator Ruben Gallego, a Democrat from Arizona, also rescinded his endorsement on Monday evening. However, Gallego stopped short of calling for Platner to withdraw from the race.

Hasan Piker, a popular Twitch streamer known for advocating for socialist candidates, also publicly disassociated himself from Platner. During a livestream on Monday, Piker declared, “This is beyond red flags. This is irredeemable.”

Platner’s campaign was contacted for comment regarding the latest developments.