Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., is calling on Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner to step aside after a new sexual assault allegation surfaced this week, marking a significant break from the support he had previously shown the Democratic candidate.
In a brief statement obtained by CNN’s Aaron Blake on Tuesday, Sanders said he had spoken with Platner about the future of his campaign and concluded that withdrawing would be the best course of action.
“I have spoken with Graham Platner about the best path forward for Maine,” Sanders said. “In light of these very serious allegations, I have recommended that he step aside.”
The statement represents a notable reversal for Sanders, who had supported Platner throughout his campaign and helped him secure a Democratic primary victory despite several previous controversies tied to the candidate’s personal history.
According to the report, Sanders had continued backing Platner even as questions persisted over a chest tattoo linked to Nazi imagery that was later removed, allegations of demeaning behavior, and troubling posts made on Reddit.
Pressure on Platner intensified Monday after Politico published an exclusive interview with Jenny Racicot, identified as a former romantic partner of the candidate.
Racicot alleged that Platner arrived uninvited at her Maine home one night in 2021 while deeply intoxicated. She claimed he forced himself on her despite her repeated pleas for him to stop.
The allegation quickly prompted several prominent Democrats to distance themselves from the embattled Senate candidate.
Sanders is now among a growing number of Democratic leaders who have withdrawn their support in the wake of the report. The Vermont senator joins Rep. Ro Khanna of California and Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, both early supporters of Platner’s campaign, in publicly abandoning the candidate.
The series of defections highlights the political fallout surrounding the new allegation, with pressure mounting from within Platner’s own party.
Sanders’ decision is particularly notable given his months of unwavering support despite the controversies that had already surrounded the candidate. While those earlier issues—including the removed tattoo, allegations of demeaning conduct, and Reddit posts—did not cause Sanders to publicly distance himself, the latest accusation appears to have changed his position.
The senator did not elaborate further on his conversations with Platner or explain why he believed stepping aside was the appropriate path beyond referencing what he called the “very serious allegations.”
Politico’s interview with Racicot has intensified scrutiny of Platner’s campaign and sparked a broader exodus of support among Democratic officials who had previously backed his candidacy.
With Sanders now joining Khanna and Warren in urging Platner to step aside, the Maine Senate candidate faces growing political pressure following the publication of the latest allegation.
Sanders’ statement marks his first public comments since the report was released and signals a sharp departure from the support he had previously extended to Platner during the Democratic primary campaign.
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