{"id":4029,"date":"2026-07-09T04:37:29","date_gmt":"2026-07-09T04:37:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=4029"},"modified":"2026-07-09T04:37:29","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T04:37:29","slug":"accused-rapist-graham-platner-finally-drops-out-of-maine-senate-race-but-claims-its-all-a-grand-conspiracy-to-stop-his-movement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=4029","title":{"rendered":"Accused rapist Graham Platner finally drops out of Maine Senate race \u2014 but claims it’s all a grand conspiracy to stop his movement"},"content":{"rendered":"
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SULLIVAN, Maine \u2014 Accused rapist Graham Platner finally bowed out of the Maine Senate race Wednesday with a long-winded video statement, blaming everyone but himself for his campaign\u2019s implosion. <\/p>\n

Read more Miranda Devine: Slimy Dems \u2014 the party of Me Too \u2014 show their true colors in Graham Platner scandal<\/a><\/p>\n

He called out \u201clarge forces,\u201d \u201ccorporate media\u201d and the \u201cpolitical establishment\u201d for trying to force him out of the race.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe believe that for the movement to continue, it can\u2019t be me. And for that reason we are suspending campaign operations,\u201d Platner said in a video announcement posted on X.<\/p>\n

The announcement comes after a woman he previously dated, Jenny Racicot, publicly alleged that he drunkenly raped her at her Maine home in 2021 despite her repeated pleas to stop. Platner called the allegations false and remained defiant in his 11-minute monologue.<\/p>\n

Leading Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, yanked their support of him in light of the allegations, but Platner framed it as a well-timed political hit job. <\/p>\n

\u201cI just want to make it clear this is all false. The things that have been claimed did not happen. It\u2019s not real,\u201d he said in the X video.<\/p>\n

Platner argued the Democratic establishment used the rape allegation \u201cas an excuse to take away all of the things that we need to run a campaign.\u201d<\/p>\n

Inside the Platners\u2019 mother\u2019s tavern moments before he dropped the announcement, his mom, Leslie Harlow, kept serving customers. She was greeted by friends who gave her a big hug. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s unclear if the news that he was dropping out had already circulated among his family and close friends.<\/p>\n

Platner had until July 13 to exit the closely watched race for Democrats to be able to easily replace him as the party battles for control of the upper chamber.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis was the last week to try to get me off of the ballot. And that\u2019s why this is occurring,\u201d Platner charged.<\/p>\n

Platner went on to urge the public not to view his decision to withdraw from the race as \u201can admission of guilt.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt most certainly is not. We\u2019re not doing it because of the allegations. We\u2019re doing it because of the structures that are being taken away from us by those in power,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman blasted Platner after his announcement.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe trash took itself out tonight,\u201d he bluntly told Fox News. <\/p>\n

\u201cNow finally people in Maine have a chance to vote on someone that\u2019s not a total piece of trash.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Platner vehemently denied the rape accusations against him, he canceled his scheduled appearances this week.<\/p>\n

Just hours after the latest rape claims, Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) issued a joint statement denouncing Platner.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe allegations reported today are incredibly disturbing \u2013 violence, abuse and sexual assault are absolutely unacceptable,\u201d it said. <\/p>\n

\u201cGraham Platner needs to immediately withdraw as the Democratic nominee for Senate and allow Maine Democrats the opportunity to choose a new candidate who can defeat Susan Collins. The DSCC [Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee] will not invest in the Maine Senate race if Platner remains on the ballot.\u201d<\/p>\n

Platner lashed out at those who abandoned him and pulled his financial support. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe are going to lose our ability to fundraise. We are going to lose our ability to access voter data. We are going to lose all of the things that any campaign needs on the basic level simply to function,\u201d he bemoaned.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cLarger organizations, the national level party, the bigger donor networks \u2013 they have all committed to spending no money in this race if I\u2019m in it,\u201d Platner continued.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey would rather see Susan Collins win than have me be the next senator from Maine,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

Throughout his campaign, Platner had survived a steady string of scandals and repeatedly insisted to the public that he didn\u2019t have any more skeletons in his closet before more bombshells dropped. <\/p>\n

He\u2019s been accused of sexting other women while married, lying about a since-removed Nazi tattoo and being unfaithful to girlfriends and contemptuous of women.<\/p>\n

Maine is widely seen as a must-win race for Democrats in order to retake control of the Senate.<\/p>\n

Most Democrats had stood by Platner throughout nearly all the scandals that emerged against Platner, and he won his primary last month nonetheless. <\/p>\n

Read more Judge, mom of friend explains why Nolan Wells was left on Horn Island before he turned up dead<\/a><\/p>\n

But the rape accusations, first reported by Politico, proved to be a death knell for his candidacy.<\/p>\n

Racicot described in disturbing detail how an \u201calmost blackout drunk\u201d Platner entered her home without permission one night in 2021 after she texted him that she didn\u2019t want to see him.<\/p>\n

In graphic detail, she recounted how she repeatedly rebuffed him, but he followed her into the bedroom and ejaculated in her.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd, the look on his face and realizing what was happening, I just realized that, like, I am in a situation where there\u2019s no consent here,\u201d she told Politico.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the latest on the bombshell sexual assault allegations which forced Graham Platner to drop out of Maine Senate race :<\/h2>\n