Graham Platner ends Maine Senate campaign after sexual assault allegation

Graham Platner ends Maine Senate campaign after sexual assault allegation. Democratic nominee, dogged by controversy since entering contest, says 'for the movement to continue, it can't be me'. Graham Platner, the Democratic nominee for US Senate in Maine, is suspending his campaign following sexual assault allegations. Platner announced his decision in an 11-minute video posted to social media on Wednesday evening, in which he angrily accused the Democratic establishment and corporate media of "using these allegations to take away all of the things we need to run a campaign" and acting "as judge, jury and executioner". "For the movement to continue, it can't be me," he said. "For that reason, we are suspending campaign operations." Platner rejected the allegations in a video posted on social media on Monday. "Any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically false," he said in a direct-to-camera message. The scrutiny resumed with Politico's report on Monday, and continued on Tuesday after the Washington Post reported that an ex-girlfriend alleged that Platner removed condoms without her consent during sex on at least six occasions. Platner's withdrawal triggers a tight window - until 27 July - for Democrats to select a replacement candidate under Maine law. Republicans, meanwhile, immediately took Platner's departure from the race as an opportunity to attack Democrats. "Maine Democrats elected a rapist Nazi to be their nominee for Senate, and regardless of who they anoint next, Susan Collins will be re-elected in November," said Samantha Cantrell, regional press secretary for the National Republican Senatorial Committee. "Democrats rolled in the mud with Platner, and now they are completely stained by their association with this sick monster," said Republican National Committee chair Joe Gruters.