A woman who previously dated Graham Platner, the Democratic nominee in Maine’s Senate race, told Politico on Monday that he sexually assaulted her several years ago.
The allegation surfaced after days of speculation around Platner’s campaign, including rumors that another damaging story was coming and that he might leave the race. Politico published its report Monday, detailing the account of a woman who said Platner forced her to have sex with him five years ago.
Platner’s campaign denied the allegation.
According to Politico reporters Jessica Piper and Adam Wren, the woman, Jenny Racicot, is a 41-year-old Maine resident who described the alleged incident in three interviews conducted over the past two weeks.
Politico reported that it also spoke with a man Racicot had dated after the alleged incident and reviewed documents connected to her account, including emails between Racicot and her therapist and messages she sent to an acquaintance years before Platner entered the race. In those messages, Politico said, Racicot warned the acquaintance against getting involved with Platner.
Racicot told Politico the alleged assault happened in November 2021 after Platner, whom she described as intoxicated, came to her home. She said he forced himself on her while she repeatedly told him to stop. Racicot also said she ended contact with him after telling him the encounter had not been consensual.
“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 responded with a statement strongly denying the allegation and framing the report as part of a broader effort to damage his candidacy.
“These allegations are very serious, and Graham vigorously denies them,” the campaign said. “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. 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,” the campaign stated.