accusation of sexual assault

A woman who previously dated Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner told Politico that he sexually assaulted her. Platner denied the allegations. 

The oysterman and military veteran has faced a series of controversies during his campaign including alleged unsettling behavior toward previous romantic partners, but the accusations in the Politico story published on Monday amount to the most serious. 

Jenny Racicot, 41, told Politico she had an on-and-off relationship with Platner for more than two years before he entered her home in 2021 uninvited while intoxicated and forced himself on her while she repeatedly told him to stop. 

Platner said in a statement to Politico, which he later repeated to Maine Morning Star, “These allegations are troubling, serious, and false. Any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically untrue.” 

Maine Morning Star could not immediately verify Racicot’s account. Politico verified Racicot’s account by reviewing emails between Racicot and her therapist referencing an alleged assault and speaking with two people in whom she confided matching details. 

The accusation comes after Racicot told The New York Times last month that Platner had entered her house uninvited in 2021, but declined to elaborate, other than stating that she cut off contact soon after that episode and found his behavior “reckless” and “unsettling.” She told Politico she was conflicted about sharing her full story because she agrees with Platner politically.

In a video posted to X Monday afternoon, Platner said he and his campaign are “taking the time to reflect on the best path forward.” 

The accusation comes a week out from Maine’s ballot deadline, which Platner’s campaign said in a statement “is not a coincidence,” also pointing to the earlier accusations of troubling behavior from past partners that came out a week before the primary election. His campaign called the allegations “coached and coordinated by out of state establishment operatives.”

Platner postponed several campaign events Sunday and Monday.