At least five members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation have called for Maine candidate for U.S. Senate Graham Platner to end his campaign as he faces sexual assault allegations.
The statements come after Politico reported Monday that Jenny Racicot, who lives in Maine, previously dated Platner and accused him of drunkenly forcing her to have sex after she told him to stop. Now, several of Platner’s key supporters are asking him to pull out of the race.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, an early supporter of Platner’s, said there can be no tolerance for sexual assault.
“Now more than ever, we need leaders in Washington who reflect our values,” she said in a statement. “Working families are counting on Democrats to win the Senate election in Maine to unrig our economy and hold Donald Trump accountable. With so much at stake, the best path forward is for Graham Platner to step aside as the Democratic nominee and address these serious allegations outside this Senate race.”
The allegation comes after Platner won the Democratic nomination last month and is set to challenge longtime incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
On Monday, Platner denied the allegation, saying “any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically false.”
“Regardless of the inaccuracy of the reporting but mindful of the political reality it will inflict, we’re taking the time to reflect on the best path forward,” he said in a video released on social media.
Platner also said he would consider next steps for his campaign.
Rep. Seth Moulton also called on Platner to drop out of the race, saying Racicot’s account “must be believed, supported and respected.”
“Platner tapped into a powerful movement of voters who feel left behind by the Washington establishment and are hungry for systemic change. But these are direct, documented allegations of sexual assault,” he said in a statement. “Platner needs to formally drop out immediately while there is still time for the movement to find a viable replacement who can carry the torch and beat Susan Collins come November.”
Rep. Stephen Lynch said it’s “long past the time” where Platner should have pulled the plug on his campaign. He also echoed that the Maine Democratic Party needs to find an alternate candidate.
“In any event, electing a rapist is not palatable. It’s not acceptable,” Lynch told GBH News. “There’s no way we should put political expediency in front of decency…We need to move on, and we may have to suffer the consequences, but that shouldn’t deter us from doing the right thing here.”
In a statement, Rep. Jake Auchincloss, who has repeatedly called for the Democratic Party to reject Platner, said he’s grateful “for the courage and candor” of Jenny Racicot and Lyndsey Fifield, but his position has not changed and “Platner should not be the Democratic nominee.”
Rep. Richard Neal also called for Platner to end his campaign, saying “these allegations are incredibly disturbing and serious.”
U.S. Senator Ed Markey and congresspeople Jim McGovern, Lori Trahan, Ayanna Pressley and Katherine Clark did not immediately respond to requests for comment from GBH News to each of their offices.
In June, The New York Times reported that Fifield accused Plater of abuse and violent behavior towards her.
Maine state law allows Platner to be replaced on the ballot if he pulls out of the race by July 13. The replacement candidate must be named by July 27.
