Democratic Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner on Monday responded to a bombshell report in which a woman accused him of sexual assault, calling the allegations false but saying he will be taking time to “reflect” on his campaign’s “best path forward.”

The video comes after a woman who previously dated Platner came forward with allegations that the Senate hopeful sexually assaulted her while severely intoxicated five years ago. 

Jenny Racicot, 41, told Politico in a series of interviews that she and Platner had an on-and-off relationship for over two years until Platner drunkenly entered her home uninvited and forced himself on her. Platner denied the allegations in a video published 11 minutes after the article.

Platner called Racicot’s allegations “troubling, serious, and false,” and called reporting of the sexual assault claims “inaccurate.” He explained that his campaign is aware of the effect the report will have.

“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 I belong to, and the goal of defeating Susan Collins,” Platner said in the video. 

Racicot, who met Platner on a dating app in 2019, detailed an encounter from 2021 where Platner allegedly entered her house after she told him she didn’t want to see him, and then groped her on the couch.

“I remember the specific moment where I thought to myself, like, ‘This is no longer my choice.’” Racicot told the outlet. Prior to that, she said their encounters were consensual.

She said she smelled alcohol on his breath and, despite telling him to stop, she said he followed her into her bedroom and had sex with her against her will. Politico also published text messages Racicot sent to a friend in 2023 about Platner, where she said she ended up in a “bad situation” with him.

“I will just very politely call him consensually careless at times,” she wrote via text. 

“YIKES,” the Maine GOP posted in response to reports of Racicot’s allegations. “It’s nothing new that he’s a scumbag.”

The Senate hopeful insisted he wouldn’t turn his back on his supporters, pointing to the high voter turnout in the June Democratic primary.

“Throughout it all, you never turned your back on me, and I will not turn my back on you now,” Platner said. “Every one of you deserves to see that vision come to fruition, and see Susan Collins defeated, and we will use every tool at our disposal to do so.”

Earlier on Monday, Platner cancelled a series of campaign events in Maine with no clear explanation. Platner has faced several other controversies on the campaign trail, including other ex-partners coming forward with allegations of abuse. 

Three women who previously dated Platner came forward last month with allegations of emotional abuse. One of the accusers said the candidate never hit her, but was physically forceful. Platner denied the allegations.

Platner’s other scandals

Platner has also faced controversy over a reported extramarital affair that his wife had informed his campaign team about. His wife, Amy Gertner, reportedly told Platner’s campaign manager that the candidate had sent sexually explicit text messages to multiple women. Platner defended his marriage, and Gertner had pointed to the “hard work” the pair had done in their relationship.

In June, the candidate visited Washington, D.C., to meet with other Democrats, who asked him about the possibility of other scandals dropping during the campaign. Platner assured them there wouldn’t be.

The left-wing populist candidate’s campaign has also been plagued by his having to address his now-covered-up skull tattoo resembling Nazi SS imagery and previous controversial social media posts he has made.

In October 2025, Platner faced questions about the story behind a tattoo on his chest that resembled the Nazi Death’s Head symbol. Platner claimed he did not know the meaning behind the symbol, which was by Adolf Hitler’s SS-Totenkopfverbände, the unit responsible for the Nazi’s concentration camps. 

Platner had also made multiple pro-communism comments and several comments against white people and law enforcement on social media. Platner pointed to his struggles with PTSD from having served in the military, and acknowledged having said “abhorrent” statements on social media. 

Should Platner decide to suspend his campaign after taking time to “reflect,” he would have to do so by July 13. He could then select a nominating committee to appoint a new candidate by July 27 to take on incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME).

The video was posted after a woman who previously dated Platner came forward with allegations that the Senate hopeful sexually assaulted her in 2021.

“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 I belong to, and the goal of defeating Susan Collins,” Platner said in the video, posted to X.

“Any accusation of nonconsensual behavior is categorically false,” Platner said.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.