Trump Dares to Question Credibility of Sexual Assault Accusation Against Platner
President Donald Trump threw down a gauntlet, declaring that former Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner was “in a bind” over sexual assault allegations, but the crux of the matter rests on whether “you believe the woman.”
Trump's comments erupted during a press gaggle aboard Air Force One, returning from a NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey. The president faced questions about Platner's future in the race after a woman he dated accused him of entering her home uninvited and forcing himself upon her.
In a video response, Platner vehemently denied the allegations, labeling them “troubling and false.” Trump weighed in, stating, “It’s really a question of whether or not you believe the woman,” just hours before Platner officially withdrew from the race. “A lot of people say big falsehoods. It’s-- he’s in a bind.”
“Should they be able to [force him out]? Well, I guess he’s going to lose,” Trump added. He drew a stark contrast, noting that when a Republican woman made similar claims, she was not believed, while this woman’s accusations garnered immediate credibility.
Platner's campaign faced a seismic shock with two new allegations surfacing this week. The first rocked his support base on Monday, prompting prominent Democrats, including Sen. Bernie Sanders and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, to demand his resignation.
The second allegation emerged from an article where an ex-girlfriend accused him of removing contraception without her consent during sex. The campaign dismissed this claim as “categorically false and politically motivated.”
This same woman had previously accused Platner of threatening physical conduct, which he “strongly disputes.”
On Wednesday, Platner’s team convened an all-hands call. Reports indicated that campaign members urged him to step down. However, a dispute with the Maine Democratic Party over the selection process for his replacement delayed any action for nearly two days.
The fallout reignited tensions between the party’s progressive and centrist factions, each trading barbs over inadequate vetting and candidate recruitment as Platner's campaign unraveled. His primary victory was a significant win for the left wing of the party, opposing military funding for Israel and advocating for Medicare for All.
Maine’s Senate seat is critical for Democrats aiming for a majority in the upper chamber. The party needs to net four seats in November, with Sen. Susan Collins’ seat viewed as one of the toughest for Republicans to defend this election cycle.
Even before Platner formally stepped down, potential successors began emerging. Former Maine Senate president Troy Jackson has initiated campaign efforts, joined by Maine Beer Company co-founder Dan Kleban, state Rep. Valli Geiger, and former state public health director Nirav Shah.
The delays surrounding Platner's withdrawal sparked frustration among Maine Democrats, leading them to vote on Wednesday to hold a formal nominating convention to select his replacement.
State party leaders sharply criticized Platner's campaign staff while facing their own scrutiny regarding whether the new nominee would reflect voter sentiments, especially since a majority had backed Platner in the June primary. Central to the conflict was the refusal of state party officials to allow Platner's campaign staff to participate in the nominating process.
Both the Platner campaign and the DSCC denied attempts to influence the selection process, claiming their outreach was merely to “understand the process” for his replacement.
By Wednesday evening, the state party extended an olive branch following backlash from their previous statements. They acknowledged an “unprecedented amount of energy and enthusiasm among Maine Democrats,” fueled by volunteers inspired by Graham Platner’s campaign. “We look forward to coming together and harnessing that energy around our new nominee as we work to defeat Susan Collins in November.”
