A woman who dated Graham Platner, the Maine Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, told Politico that he sexually assaulted her nearly five years ago.Politico reported Monday that the woman, a 41-year-old Maine resident, detailed the sexual assault allegations in three exclusive interviews that were conducted over the past two weeks.According to Politico, the woman said she had an on-and-off relationship with Platner for more than two years before he entered her home uninvited one night in late 2021. The woman claimed Platner was deeply intoxicated and forced himself on her while she repeatedly told him to stop. She said she cut off contact with him after telling him the encounter was not consensual.”I remember him grabbing my pelvis and being really forceful of me,” the woman told Politico. “I remember the specific moment where I thought to myself, like, ‘This is no longer my choice.'”Politico also said they spoke with another man the woman dated and had confided in years after the alleged incident. The publication also said it reviewed a number of documents, including emails between the woman and her therapist and messages between the woman and an acquaintance whom she warned against getting involved with Platner years before he ran for office.In a statement to sister station WMTW, Platner said: “These allegations are troubling, serious, and false. Any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically untrue.”Platner then reiterated those sentiments in a video he shared on his campaign’s social media pages.”I wanted to directly address the troubling, serious and false allegations against me,” Platner said in the video. “Any accusation of nonconsensual behavior is categorically false. … So 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 that I belong to and the goal of defeating Susan Collins.”Platner’s campaign shared the following statement with Maine’s Total Coverage:” These allegations are very serious and Graham vigorously denies them. 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.”This is a breaking news story that will be updated.
A woman who dated Graham Platner, the Maine Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, told Politico that he sexually assaulted her nearly five years ago.
Politico reported Monday that the woman, a 41-year-old Maine resident, detailed the sexual assault allegations in three exclusive interviews that were conducted over the past two weeks.
According to Politico, the woman said she had an on-and-off relationship with Platner for more than two years before he entered her home uninvited one night in late 2021. The woman claimed Platner was deeply intoxicated and forced himself on her while she repeatedly told him to stop. She said she cut off contact with him after telling him the encounter was not consensual.
“I remember him grabbing my pelvis and being really forceful of me,” the woman told Politico. “I remember the specific moment where I thought to myself, like, ‘This is no longer my choice.'”
Politico also said they spoke with another man the woman dated and had confided in years after the alleged incident. The publication also said it reviewed a number of documents, including emails between the woman and her therapist and messages between the woman and an acquaintance whom she warned against getting involved with Platner years before he ran for office.
In a statement to sister station WMTW, Platner said: “These allegations are troubling, serious, and false. Any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically untrue.”
Platner then reiterated those sentiments in a video he shared on his campaign’s social media pages.
“I wanted to directly address the troubling, serious and false allegations against me,” Platner said in the video. “Any accusation of nonconsensual behavior is categorically false. … So 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 that I belong to and the goal of defeating Susan Collins.”
Platner’s campaign shared the following statement with Maine’s Total Coverage:
” These allegations are very serious and Graham vigorously denies them. 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.”
This is a breaking news story that will be updated.
