this post was submitted on 06 Jul 2026
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A woman who previously dated Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner said he drunkenly forced her to have sex after she told him to stop, according to a Politico report released Monday, leading prominent supporters to pull their endorsements and throwing a must-win race for the party into turmoil.

Platner denied the allegation, but said he would be considering next steps for his campaign.

“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.

Jenny Racicot, who lives in Maine, told Politico that Platner entered her home in 2021 while drunk and assaulted her. Racicot said she had been in an on-and-off relationship with Platner, but she cut off contact with him after that night and told him the incident wasn’t consensual. A voicemail left at a number listed for Racicot seeking comment did not receive an immediate response.

Platner’s campaign did not immediately respond to an email and phone message from The Associated Press seeking comment.

“Any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically false,” Platner said in his video.

Still, the allegation sparked a flight away from a candidate who has long been controversial. Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat who’d stood by Platner even as the insurgent candidate was hit with prior allegations, said Monday’s was enough. “I’ve been very clear that sexual assault or violence against women is a red line,” Khanna said. “These allegations are very serious and credible. Graham Platner should drop out from the race. I am withdrawing my endorsement.”

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[–] webadict@lemmy.world -1 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

That's kinda hindsight being 20:20 about the tattoo. Like, a tattoo is a warning sign, but it isn't necessarily indicative of beliefs. I've seen the tattoo, and, like, I'm not gonna know it's a Nazi tattoo, so I can forgive it. Go ahead and claim that's the number one indicator if you want, but I think most people are gonna give wiggle room for redemption there.

Being a mercenary is a much bigger warning sign. I think pointing to that is a much better idea. That sort of shows lack of remorse and indicates a lot of bad decision-making on Platner's part. Go all in on that! That's hard to reconcile.

Being a murderer is--and bare with me for a second--not a big deal for most people. A lot of kids join the military because they were brainwashed and thought they were doing a good thing. Some realize their place in it and try to repent for their actions. If someone was murdered or did a war crime, there are pretty extenuating circumstances where I can see those being forgivable. There are reasons for murder that people let slide, like self defense. And I get drawing a line there. Truly, I do. But America grows its war criminals at home on purpose. I can see why people would let that slide.

But... There just aren't any reasons where rape is justifiable. You can't rape someone in self defense. You won't be forgiven for being brainwashed into raping someone. It IS a step too far in most people's eyes, and not only did he rape someone, he did not acknowledge it, he did not apologize, and he definitely fucking knew about it.

That's my two cents about it. I think the mercenary background is really where the big warning sign is, because the kinds of people that become mercenaries are the kind that do not regret being a soldier and have an attitude of "boys will be boys".

[–] deathmetaldawgy@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago) (1 children)

mercenary background is really where the big warning sign is

I agree. US military background in general is the red flag.

Rest of your take is weird. There’s no reason to compare the two especially because the man has done both. I don’t know why you would try to reduce a literal murder down to “well it’s not as bad as rape”. If you’ve killed somebody, I never want you near me. Plain and simple. I don’t care why, you’ve ended someone’s life. Same with a rapist, I don’t care if you’ve “changed”. You’re a dangerous person to be around.

Using that to say murdering foreign children is better is fucking gross dude. Delete this weird ass shit

[–] webadict@lemmy.world 0 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

If you murder someone in the defense of yourself or someone else, you're still a murderer. Like, by definition, you murdered someone. We, as humans, typically excuse murder in these cases. That's why self-defense is a legal and viable defense for murder. You are still a murderer for it, but it is excused because you did it out of some necessity. They ended someone's life, but are they dangerous to be around?

That whole thing doesn't exist for rape. That's why it's a worse crime and not excusable. That's the point.

That's why people are willing to excuse things like being a soldier or having a Nazi tattoo or even being a mercenary, but not raping someone.

[–] deathmetaldawgy@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 hour ago

You’re making this argument for someone that murdered fucking kids not in self defense and really annoying and gross. Please go away