31°46′40.7″N 35°14′07.7″E
Top Stories
The Wire
← The Wire
Statecraft · Dispatch · PoliticalDeveloping

Ex-girlfriend accuses Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner of forced sex, Politico reports

The Zioneer Intelligence Desk

Primary source Internal intake · 2 reviewed intake signals · Desk window 22:49

TL;DR

A woman who dated Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner says he forced her to have sex with him nearly five years ago despite her repeated objections, according to a Politico report. Platner denies the allegation. The story follows Platner's cancellation of campaign events earlier today amid a looming scandal, as The Zioneer reported.

01 · THE DISPATCH

The Politico report, published Monday evening, alleges that a woman who was in a relationship with Platner nearly five years ago accused him of forcing sex despite her verbal objections. The woman's identity has not been disclosed. Platner denied the allegation through his campaign, saying the encounter was consensual. The report adds to a series of controversies surrounding Platner, a military veteran and political newcomer who won the Democratic Senate primary on June 9 with roughly 75% of the vote. He is set to face incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins in the November midterm. Earlier on Monday, Platner canceled all upcoming campaign events, citing a looming scandal. The Zioneer previously reported on that cancellation prior to the Politico story. Platner has also faced questions about a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol, which he has since covered and said he got without understanding its meaning.

02 · How it developed

4 developments

  1. Latest

    Candidate reportedly considering dropping out of the race.

  2. Platner denied the allegations and is considering his future.

  3. Ex-girlfriend accuses candidate Graham Platner of forced sex.

Related dispatches
03 · Source and signal

Source and signal

  • Internal intake
Desk accountability

This dispatch is published under The Zioneer Intelligence Desk. Raw intake channels remain internal provenance; an external outlet or channel is named only when it materially helps readers evaluate a specific claim.