Graham Platner Drops Out of Maine Senate Race After Latest Rape Allegation

FOXNews.com:

Graham Platner, the embattled Democratic Senate nominee in Maine, suspended his campaign on Wednesday amid mounting controversies and growing calls from top Democrats in his home state, in the nation's capital, and across the country for him to immediately quit the race. 

 

Platner, a populist Democrat backed last September by progressive champion Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., was challenging longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins in a high-profile, combustible and expensive race in Maine, which is one of a handful that will determine if the GOP holds onto its slim Senate majority in November's midterm elections. 

 

"For the movement to continue, it can’t be me. For that reason, we are suspending campaign operations," Platner said in a video posted to social media.

In the end, it appears that being accused of rape by a fellow liberal (rather than by a conservative, as had been the case just weeks earlier) proved to be the final nail in Graham Platner's political coffin. As the allegation triggered a swift collapse in support from the Left and came shortly after Platner insisted there were no further revelations about his past. In a video announcing the suspension of his campaign, he acknowledged that his operation could no longer raise funds, access key voter data, or maintain the infrastructure needed to compete in a statewide race. His withdrawal also comes as Maine Democrats scramble to replace him before the July 13 candidate deadline, with reports indicating Platner hopes to have a say in selecting his successor. 

Of course, the writing was already on the wall. A recent poll showed Republican incumbent Susan Collins leading the race, and Platner's long list of controversies (including a Nazi tattoo he has had for more than two decades) had already left his candidacy politically damaged. Therefore from a normal perspective, his exit was likely inevitable. What stands out, however, is how many prominent voices on the progressive Left continued defending or minimizing Platner's conduct through each successive scandal because they viewed him as their best chance to help Democrats win that Senate seat.

RELATED: BREAKING: Totenkopf Out - Platner Quits

Graham Platner Accused of Sexual Assault In Explosive Politico Report

Mediaite.com:

Democratic Party Maine U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner was accused of sexual assault by a woman he dated some five years ago, in a bombshell report from Politico on Monday. 

 

“The woman, a 41-year-old Maine resident named Jenny Racicot, detailed the alleged incident to POLITICO in three interviews over the past two weeks,” Politico reported, adding: 

 

POLITICO also spoke with a man Racicot dated and confided in the years after the alleged incident, and reviewed documents, including emails between Racicot and her therapist and messages between Racicot and an acquaintance whom she warned against getting involved with Platner years before he ran for office. 

 

Platner denied the allegation, telling the outlet, “Any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically untrue.”

Kind of surprising that the guy with the 20-year Nazi tattoo is now being accused of sexually assaulting a former girlfriend. Sarcasm aside, it's another example of the MeToo movement seemingly boomeranging back on Democrats (see: Eric Swalwell). That said, the allegations against Platner, brought by Jenny Racicot, are extremely serious. She says he showed up at her home in a blackout state after she had explicitly told him not to come, then forced himself on her before she cut off all contact. If that's what happened, this goes well beyond the usual debates over mixed signals or disputed consent. Allegedly forcing your way into someone's home and then sexually assaulting them is in an entirely different category. Platner denies the allegations, but given the nature of the accusations, many people are likely to view that denial with skepticism. The only question now is whether the scandal will be enough to end his bid for a Maine Senate seat that already appeared to be a long shot. We'll find out soon enough.

RELATED: NEW: Nazi-Tatted Kik Creep Canceling Campaign Events: UPDATE: Date Rape? UPDATE: Platner Responds

Democrat Congressman Jake Auchincloss Slams Graham Platner's Nazi-Linked Tattoo as 'Disqualifying'

FOXNews.com:

Rep. Jake Auchincloss, D-Mass, delivered a sharp rebuke of Maine candidate Graham Platner, breaking with his party over the Senate hopeful’s Nazi-linked tattoo. 

 

"I find that tattoo and his commentary about it to be personally disqualifying," Auchincloss told CNN on Monday. "I hope Maine voters agree with me." 

 

"I think it would be a mistake for the Democratic Party to think that Graham Platner’s brand of the Democratic Party is what wins us durable majorities throughout this country," the Massachusetts lawmaker continued.

Never heard of this Congressman before, but the fact that he's Blue-state Democrat with the cojones to openly criticize Platner, speaks volumes. Of course, Platner's controversial past is still being placated by the msm, but it's good to see some Democrats out there willing to call him out for his past misdeeds.

RELATED: Veteran Who Graham Platner Mocked and Said ‘Didn’t Deserve to Live’ Fires Back Hard: ‘Vile and Disgusting’

Power-Hungry Democrats Embrace Nazi-Tattooed Graham Platner in Hope to Win Maine Senate Seat

TheHill.com:

Democrats are coalescing around progressive political outsider Graham Platner and his bid to oust incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins in Maine after primary rival Gov. Janet Mills ended her struggling bid Thursday. 

 

Mills, who is term limited as governor, jumped into the race late last year as one of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-N.Y.) top recruits, but she had trouble gaining traction in polls and fundraising while Platner surged ahead — despite various controversies around his campaign. She ended her bid Thursday in a statement without endorsing Platner. 

 

But Schumer and the Democrats’ Senate campaign arm got behind Platner as Mills exited the ring, joining progressive Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and nearly two dozen state legislators who were expected to endorse on Thursday. The winnowed field adds to Democrats’ bullishness about what’s expected to be one of the closest Senate races in the country this fall. “The base couldn’t have spoken more clearly,” Democratic strategist Christy Setzer said.

When you're a bunch of lying, despicable hypocrites and all you care about is regaining power so you can put a stop to Trump's agenda, then you're even willing to embrace a Hamas-loving, Nazi symbol-wearing, law enforcement-hating misogynist like Graham Platner. It's really that simple.

RELATED: YGBKM: Democrats Blast Schumer For Not Embracing Nazi-Tattooed Platner