Jenny Racicot, 41, said during a CNN interview that aired Monday that Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, a Democrat, had stopped briefly to apologize while he was raping her. Racicot described the scenario to CNN anchor Jake Tapper, claiming that Platner had appeared to be “blackout drunk” when he came into her house — and although he did not listen when she told him to stop, there were periods where he “came to” and apologized before going right back to what he was doing. WATCH: Ro Khanna and numerous other Democrats have dropped their endorsements of Graham Platner just in time. Just minutes before CNN’s Jake Tapper conducted a lengthy exclusive interview with the woman accusing the Senate candidate of r*ping her. https://t.co/oqyxVuIm03 pic.twitter.com/5VVWA7oVE1 — Media Lies (@MediasLies) July 6, 2026 Racicot explained that she and Platner had been texting each other on the evening of the alleged assault, and that she must have said something that he had believed to be an invitation. She said she had not meant it that way, but he said he was going to come over. According to Racicot, she said again that he should not come over, and he stopped responding — at which point she believed he had gotten the message. It was about thirty minutes later that she said he showed up, entered her home through an unlocked door, and got on top of her. Racicot said she told him several times that she was “not into” what he was doing, but that he did not listen. She said that as the assault continued, Platner had a blank look in his eyes. She said that in the struggle, one of them had knocked over a sewing kit that she kept near the couch — and when the contents hit the ground and scattered, that was the moment she began thinking that she should “comply” for her own safety. “That was me recognizing that this wasn’t just like oh, hey, somebody showed up and I’m going to tell him to go home, like he was heavily intoxicated, had intentions with me, and wasn’t listening when I said no,” she claimed. As the assault continued, she said he seemed to be going in and out of moments of lucidity — and even said that he “would apologize” before going right back to what he’d been doing. Racicot said that once it was over, she sat in her bathroom for quite some time attempting to process what had happened. The hardest thing, she said, was realizing that he had been someone she trusted and had been involved with before, was that it “was consensual until it wasn’t.” By the time she came out of the bathroom, she said that Platner had fallen asleep in her bed. Realizing that he had driven to her house drunk and not wanting to put him back on the road in that condition, she said she waited until he woke up and told him to leave. He said he did not remember anything that had happened the night before — and Racicot told him that nothing he had done that night had been acceptable, demanding that he leave. “He just got up and got dressed and didn’t seem concerned,” she said. “He didn’t ask me a single question … How can somebody that you’ve been in some type of a relationship with for this long tells you to never speak to [them] again because of something that you did and you don’t even ask what you did?” Racicot told Tapper that she had been torn on whether to come forward, in part because she is a Democrat and would like to see a Democrat win the Senate seat in Maine — but that she felt like she couldn’t stay silent any longer.  

With Democrats abandoning Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner after new sexual assault accusations dropped on Monday, the party is evaluating options on how to move forward with the general election less than four months away. There is still time for Maine Democrats to replace Platner on November’s general election ballot. If Platner were to withdraw by 5 p.m. next Monday, July 13, Democrats would then have until 5 p.m. on Monday, July 27, to select a new nominee. Maine Democrats would not hold another primary. Instead, party officials would choose a replacement. The deadlines are designed to give election officials enough time to finalize and print general election ballots. If Platner remains in the race after the July 13 cutoff, Democrats cannot replace him, and his name will remain on the November ballot. Maine law allows later replacements only if the candidate dies or suffers an incapacitating illness or injury. Similar to Democrats replacing President Joe Biden with Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential race, Maine Democrats could choose a new nominee without holding another primary. Platner, who easily won last month’s Democratic primary, is trying to unseat incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins in one of the cycle’s most closely watched Senate races. His campaign was thrown into turmoil after former girlfriends described his volatile behavior and claimed he knew the meaning behind his Nazi tattoo. On Monday, POLITICO published a report in which a woman accused him of raping her in 2021. Platner denied the claim. The accusation led multiple Democrats, including Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), and the Maine Democratic Party, to call on Platner to withdraw. In a video released Monday, he said the accusation was false and added that he was taking time to “reflect on the best path forward.” pic.twitter.com/9itIt4Mw25 — Graham Platner for Senate (@grahamformaine) July 6, 2026 That leaves Maine Democrats with less than a week to determine whether to continue pressuring him to step aside or prepare to move forward with him as the party’s nominee.      

Democrats nationwide have bailed on embattled Maine Senate Democratic candidate Graham Platner after a bombshell report accused the leftist oyster farmer of rape.  Politico interviewed 41-year-old Maine resident Jenny Racicot, who accused Platner of breaking into her house in 2021 and sexually assaulting her. In a one-two punch, CNN released an interview with Racicot, who described the alleged assault as rape.  Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), who has previously defended Platner, pulled the plug.   “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.”  I’ve been very clear that sexual assault or violence against women is a red line. These allegations are very serious and credible. Graham Platner should drop out from the race. I am withdrawing my endorsement. — Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) July 6, 2026 Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) also bailed on the Maine Democrat.  The allegations against Graham Platner are troubling and deeply serious. I am rescinding my endorsement. — Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) July 6, 2026 Hasan Piker, the leftist streamer working overtime to elect socialist candidates, predicted the end of Platner’s campaign.  “That is curtains. That is the trifecta. Okay, that is the trifecta of a reliable allegation. It’s holy sh*t…I believe this, this accusation. I believe this allegation,” Piker said, according to Politico.  The Maine Democratic Party also called on Platner to drop out of the race against incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins.  As of Monday afternoon, Sens Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) have not publicly weighed in on the bombshell.  Previously, Sanders drew a line in the sand: “I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that Graham Platner is the next senator from the state of Maine,” he said.  On the campaign trail, Warren embraced Platner in endearing terms. “That’s my kind of man,” she said before Platner clinched the Democratic nomination.  The turmoil comes after Racicot told Politico she had an on-and-off relationship with Platner for more than two years before “he entered her rural Maine home uninvited” in late 2021. She described Platner as “deeply intoxicated,” claiming he forced himself on her despite repeatedly telling him to stop.  “I remember him grabbing my pelvis and being really forceful of me,” she said to Politico. “I remember the specific moment where I thought to myself, like, ‘This is no longer my choice.’”  Racicot said she felt compelled to come forward after other women raised allegations against Platner. “One of the reasons I didn’t come forward sooner was, the huge moral conflict that I had between supporting his politics, but not supporting him as a person,” she said to Politico. “I just want the truth out there. I just want people to have a whole scope of who he is as a person.” The woman told POLITICO she connected with Platner on the dating app Bumble in 2019 and had consensual sex with him before the night he allegedly assaulted her. On that night in 2021, she described an “almost blackout drunk” Platner getting on top of her. “I had been telling him these words, like: ‘No, don’t,’” she recalled to Politico. “And, the look on his face and realizing what was happening, I just realized that, like, I am in a situation where there’s no consent here,” she said. Weeks after the alleged assault, Racicot said she “struggled with shock and confusion” and did not file a police report. The outlet reviewed messages she sent to friends and spoke to partners who appeared to support her account. Platner denied the accusations, telling Politico: “These allegations are troubling, serious, and false.” Minutes after the story was published, Platner took to social media. “Any accusation of nonconsensual behavior is categorically false,” he said in a two-minute video message. “Regardless of the inaccuracy of the reporting, but mindful the political reality it will inflict, we are taking time to reflect on the best path forward…” Maine Democrats face a July 13 deadline to swap Platner for another Democrat to challenge incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins. “These allegations are appalling. Nevertheless, it is not up to me to choose the Democratic nominee for Senate,” Sen. Collins said in response to the scandal.

A 41-year-old Maine woman has accused embattled Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner of sexually assaulting her nearly five years ago, according to a bombshell Politico report published Monday. Politico interviewed 41-year-old Maine resident Jenny Racicot three times over the past two weeks and reviewed documents and witness accounts that it reported corroborated her allegations. Racicot told Politico she had an on-and-off relationship with Platner for more than two years before “he entered her rural Maine home uninvited” in late 2021. She described Platner as “deeply intoxicated,” claiming he forced himself on her despite repeatedly telling him to stop.  “I remember him grabbing my pelvis and being really forceful of me,” she said to Politico. “I remember the specific moment where I thought to myself, like, ‘This is no longer my choice.’”  Racicot said she felt compelled to come forward after other women raised allegations against Platner. “One of the reasons I didn’t come forward sooner was, the huge moral conflict that I had between supporting his politics, but not supporting him as a person,” she said to Politico. “I just want the truth out there. I just want people to have a whole scope of who he is as a person.” The woman told POLITICO she connected with Platner on the dating app Bumble in 2019 and had consensual sex with him before the night he allegedly assaulted her. On that night in 2021, she described an “almost blackout drunk” Platner getting on top of her. “I had been telling him these words, like: ‘No, don’t,’” she recalled to Politico. “And, the look on his face and realizing what was happening, I just realized that, like, I am in a situation where there’s no consent here,” she said. Weeks after the alleged assault, Racicot said she “struggled with shock and confusion” and did not file a police report. The outlet reviewed messages she sent to friends and spoke to partners who appeared to support her account. Platner denied the accusations, telling Politico: “These allegations are troubling, serious, and false.” Minutes after the story was published, Platner took to social media. “Any accusation of nonconsensual behavior is categorically false,” he said in a two-minute video message. “Regardless of the inaccuracy of the reporting, but mindful the political reality it will inflict, we are taking time to reflect on the best path forward…” pic.twitter.com/9itIt4Mw25 — Graham Platner for Senate (@grahamformaine) July 6, 2026 The bombshell revelations come as the Maine Democrat’s campaign schedule unraveled over the weekend. After failing to appear at a Fourth of July parade in Machias, Platner postponed a Sunday town hall, according to the Bangor Daily News, and later canceled another town hall set for Monday evening. On Monday morning, Gorham Democrats, a local political group, chalked up the cancellation to the oyster farmer “not feeling well.”  “So, unfortunately, we did have to postpone, not cancel, postpone Graham Platner’s event tonight,” the woman said with a deep sigh. “From my understanding, he is not feeling well, so that’s all it is.”  Democrats, however, were bracing for a major shakeup. Several told the Bangor Daily News they expected a national news outlet to publish a damaging story about Platner within the next 24 hours. Social media erupted with speculation that the Maine Democrat’s campaign could soon come to an end, which would upend the midterm landscape and breathe new life into Republican hopes of holding the Senate. “A lot of people are about to look really dumb,” Ally Sammarco, a Democratic content creator, said on X. “Good thing I remember each and every one of you who supported him after the NYT article.”  In June, The New York Times cited several ex-girlfriends who claimed Platner engaged in a pattern of “intimidating and disturbing” behavior in their relationships and lied about not knowing the meaning of his Nazi tattoo.  Three of Platner’s ex-girlfriends, including Lyndsey Fifield, described volatile and “toxic” relationships with the Senate hopeful, claiming he demeaned women, became physically threatening, and was repeatedly unfaithful. On one occasion, an ex-girlfriend accused Platner of twisting her arm, shoving her into a bedroom, and holding the door shut until she became “calm.”  The Platner campaign denied allegations of misconduct and rushed to MS NOW to do damage control.  “There are some allegations in this piece that I just want to be kind of unequivocal about, are simply not true,” Platner said on the television network. “Anything alleging physicality, anything alleging that I knew what my tattoo was, these are the statements of someone who’s politically motivated.” Racicot told Politico the partisan, Democratic-led attacks on the New York Times story also pushed her to speak out.  “My part of the story was just a read-over,” Racicot said to Politico. “And the story was Lyndsey, and the accusations of her being politically motivated.” On top of that, The Daily Wire previously uncovered that the Senate hopeful maintained an active account on a social media platform known to attract child predators. Several media outlets reported that Platner, a married man, had exchanged sexually explicit messages with several women.  Platner’s decisive primary victory dealt a major blow to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), who recruited and backed Maine Democratic Governor Janet Mills. Maine Democrats face a July 13 deadline to swap Platner for another Democrat to challenge incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins. Prediction markets have shifted sharply, with the odds of Platner dropping out climbing from 9% Monday morning to 90%.

Joking with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) at the White House on Monday, President Donald Trump was asked whether Cruz belonged on the Supreme Court. Trump stated, “In fact, somebody said, ‘Would you ever appoint him to the United States Supreme Court, because he’s a brilliant lawyer, Ted?’ I said, “Well, he’s the only one I can think of that’s gonna get 100 votes. All Republicans will vote for him. All Democrats will vote for him, because they want to get him the hell out of the Senate!’ If I was having a hard time with getting the votes I would appoint Ted Cruz, I’d get 100%. Guaranteed.” The truth is no laughing matter. Although Justice Clarence Thomas and Justice Samuel Alito are rock-ribbed originalists and staunchly conservative, Thomas turned 78 in June, and Alito is 76. If Trump wants to preserve the Court’s conservative stamp, he may need to find replacements for one or both before leaving office. With the GOP holding only 53 Senate seats, the majority could easily evaporate. Donald Trump: If I appointed Ted Cruz to the Supreme Court, he'd get 100 votes. "He's the ONLY ONE I can think of that's gonna get 100 votes." "ALL Republicans will vote for him. ALL Democrats will vote for him, because they want to get him the hell out of the Senate!" pic.twitter.com/Y8hvrzp3LS — Townhall.com (@townhallcom) July 6, 2026   Cruz, the first Hispanic senator from Texas, graduated from Princeton University before earning his Juris Doctor from Harvard. After serving as a policy advisor in the George W. Bush administration, he was appointed by then-Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott as the state’s solicitor general, a role he held until 2008. Cruz worked in private practice until winning his Senate seat in 2012, then winning reelection in 2018 and 2024. During his tenure as Solicitor General, Cruz successfully defended the Ten Commandments placed on the Texas State Capitol grounds and successfully defended Texas against reopening the cases of 51 Mexican nationals who were convicted of murder in the United States. In September 2020, after President Trump named him to a group of potential Supreme Court nominees, Cruz was asked by Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo, “Do you want the job?” “I don’t,” Cruz replied. “It is deeply honoring, it’s humbling to be included in the list … but it’s not the desire of my heart. I want to be in the political fight.” In 2016, he also dismissed the idea, saying, “That is not a desire of my heart. I am committed to the fight of ensuring we have strong principled constitutionalists on the court, but I believe that I can do a great more good fighting across the political spectrum.”