A woman who previously dated Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner said he drunkenly forced her to have sex after she told him to stop, according to a released Monday.
Platner denied the allegation and said he would be considering next steps for his campaign.
鈥淩egardless of the inaccuracy of the reporting but mindful of the political reality it will inflict, we鈥檙e taking the time to reflect on the best path forward,鈥� he said in a video released on social media.
Jenny Racicot, who lives in Maine, told Politico that Platner entered her home in 2021 while drunk and assaulted her. Racicot said she had been in an on-and-off relationship with Platner, but she cut off contact with him after that night and told him the incident wasn鈥檛 consensual.
An email and phone message from The Associated Press seeking comment were sent to Platner鈥檚 campaign on Monday.
鈥淎ny accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically false,鈥� Platner said in his video.
As of Monday, Platner had canceled a handful of campaign town halls planned in Maine.
Platner secured the nomination to become Maine鈥檚 Democratic Senate candidate last month, but does include a provision for Democrats to replace him ahead of the general election.
According to the statute, party officials may select a new nominee if a candidate who won the primary withdraws by 5 p.m. July 13. The replacement candidate must be named by July 27.
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