NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
A political adviser to Graham Platner’s now-defunct Senate campaign is facing scrutiny after saying the team urged him to end his candidacy “as soon” as it learned of a rape allegation — despite the campaign publicly denying the claim before Platner suspended his run two days later.
“As soon as the team became aware of the rape allegations against Graham Platner, we advised he suspend his candidacy, and in the following days worked to wind down the campaign,” Platner political adviser Morris Katz wrote on X Wednesday.
The allegation, first reported by Politico on Monday, came from Maine resident Jenny Racicot, who said Platner raped her in 2021. Platner has denied the claim, calling it false and politically motivated.
EXPLOSIVE SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATION ROCKS PLATNER CAMPAIGN AHEAD OF KEY DEADLINE IN CRUCIAL SENATE RACE
Katz, one of Platner’s top political advisers, faced scrutiny over the post on Thursday, including receiving an X community note for its timeline.
“When asked by CNN about Jenny Racicot’s rape allegation on July 6, Platner’s campaign denied it was true rather than immediately advising suspension, which occurred two days later,” the community note reads.
CNN’s Jake Tapper weighed in on Katz’s message, posting to X: “As soon as we asked the campaign about what Jenny Racicot told us on the record and on camera Monday, the campaign said that her assertion he had raped her was false.”
Platner responded within minutes to the Politico article, posted at 3:18 p.m. Monday, sharing a video on X at 3:29 p.m. He said his campaign was “taking time to reflect on the best path forward.”
His campaign also commented in the article, noting Platner “vigorously denies” the “very serious” allegations, while arguing critics were working to push him out of the running.
“They are also coached and coordinated by out of state establishment operatives,” the campaign told Politico on Monday “For a year, opponents of this campaign have thrown everything they can at Graham –– calling him a Nazi, a war criminal, and a communist. None of it has been true and this is no different. It is not a coincidence that this story comes a week before the ballot deadline, just as the previous false allegations came a week before the primary. Graham began this campaign to fight for a Maine where everyone is treated with dignity and where Mainers are put first, and no amount of desperate smears will stop this movement from seeing that vision through.”
PLATNER’S LATEST ACCUSER CLAIMS THE DEMOCRATIC SENATE CANDIDATE ‘ABSOLUTELY’ RAPED HER
As calls grew for him to exit the race, Platner’s campaign announced Wednesday that he would speak later that day, but did not say what he planned to address before he posted an 11-minute recorded video on X.
In the video, Platner said the allegations were “all false,” blaming the political establishment for working against him to force him out of the race.
“Much like the news that was created the week before the primary. There is a reason that this is happening now. I only have until July 13th until I am officially the nominee. This was the last week to try to get me off of the ballot. And that’s why this is occurring,” said Platner.
He announced the suspension of his campaign in the Wedesday video.
“For the movement to continue, it can’t be me. For that reason, we are suspending campaign operations,” Platner said in a video posted to social media.
Platner officially ended his Senate campaign on Friday afternoon.
Critics on social media seized on the timeline, questioning when the campaign learned of the allegation and why Platner did not suspend his campaign until two days later.
“Important to note that Morris and his team began calling former girlfriends of Platner LAST YEAR because they knew there were issues,” wrote Republican commentator Matt Whitlock on X.
“The Democrat establishment was fully ready to make a rapist a United States Senator. They only took him out because he was going to lose,” wrote the Republicans X account.
“11 minutes and zero accountability,” wrote Democratic, pro-choice women’s PAC Emily’s List.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IF PLATNER DROPS OUT? HERE’S WHO COULD REPLACE HIM ON THE BALLOT AND HOW IT WOULD WORK
Maine Democrats were racing a July 13 deadline for Platner to formally withdraw from the race, a step that would allow the party to select a replacement nominee by July 27 to face incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
Fox News Digital reached out to Platner’s team and Katz for comment.
Read the full article here