Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said he told Maine Democrat Graham Platner to end his Senate bid on Tuesday, in the wake of a POLITICO report that a woman who Platner dated said he forced her to have sex with him.
“I have spoken with Graham Platner about the best path forward for Maine. In light of these very serious allegations, I have recommended that he step aside,” Sanders said in a statement.
Platner has denied the allegations, saying in a statement this week that “any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically untrue.”
It’s Sanders’ first public remarks about Platner since the POLITICO report, and it comes after he’s stood beside Platner in the wake of other scandals. Numerous other elected Democrats and officials called on Platner to step down on Monday night.
Shortly after POLITICO published the report, Platner posted a video saying he was “taking the time to reflect on the best path forward” on his candidacy.
Already, Democrats in the Pine Tree State are wrangling to replace Platner, something that can only happen if the nominee himself chooses to step aside. Platner would have to make the decision by July 13, as outlined in Maine state law. From there, the state Democratic will determine who will replace him, and that person must be named by July 27.
Sanders’ call on Platner is particularly notable, given he endorsed him and has rallied with him repeatedly in Maine. Platner’s campaign did not immediately respond to an email regarding Sanders’ decision.
Numerous other former supporters of Platner, from progressive commentators to elected officials, called on him to end his campaign on Monday and Tuesday. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and Democrats’ top Senate super PAC both pulled their financial support on Monday, saying they could not invest in the race to defeat GOP Sen. Susan Collins with Platner as the nominee.
The mass exodus comes after the party had largely stood behind Platner in other scandals, including resurfaced controversial social media posts and a Nazi-linked tattoo.
But POLITICO’s Monday report, where 41-year-old Maine resident Jenny Racicot said Platner entered her home uninvited nearly five years ago and forced himself on her despite her repeatedly telling him to stop, proved to be enough for the party to ditch him.
