The political crisis engulfing Maine Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner deepened Monday after a woman who accused him of sexual assault told CNN she believes what happened to her “absolutely” constituted rape.
Jenny Racicot, who first detailed her allegations in interviews with Politico, sat down with CNN’s Jake Tapper for her first televised interview, describing an encounter she says occurred in late 2021 after she repeatedly told Platner not to come to her home. Racicot alleges Platner, whom she had previously dated, arrived anyway, entered the house without permission and ignored repeated refusals before forcing himself on her. Platner has categorically denied the allegations.
In an exclusive interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper on Monday Jenny Racicot said that Graham Platner, the Democratic nominee for US Senate in Maine, entered her home without permission and raped her when they were in a casual dating relationship. Racicot said the incident happened… pic.twitter.com/Gf2mWtDVBT
— CNN (@CNN) July 6, 2026
During the interview, Tapper asked Racicot directly whether she considered the alleged assault to be rape.
Tapper: “Did Graham Platner rape you?”
Racicot: “By definition? Yes. Absolutely.”
Tapper then asked whether Platner had forced himself on her after she repeatedly said no.
“Yeah,” Racicot responded, adding, “He violated multiple layers of consent that night by coming into my home, when I asked him not to. And by advancing on me when I told him not to.”
Racicot told CNN she chose not to physically fight because she feared for her safety.
“I knew in that moment I wasn’t safe,” she said. “I just had to evaluate my safety and come up with the least worst outcome.”
When Tapper observed that “complying is not consenting,” Racicot agreed.
“No, complying is not consenting.”
The interview follows Politico’s report, which cited interviews with Racicot, contemporaneous text messages, communications with her therapist and statements from another former partner she says she confided in after the alleged incident. Racicot has also said she wrestled with coming forward because she supported many of Platner’s political positions and wanted Democrats to win the Senate seat.
Platner has vigorously denied the accusation.
“Any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically untrue,” he said in a statement issued after Politico’s report. He later added that the allegations are “troubling, serious, and false” while saying he was considering “the best path forward” for his campaign.
The political fallout has been swift. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chair Kirsten Gillibrand, Maine Democratic Party leaders and several Democratic lawmakers have urged Platner to withdraw from the race. The DSCC announced it will not spend money to support his campaign if he remains the nominee. Under Maine election law, Democrats have until mid-July to replace Platner should he choose to step aside.
The allegations remain unproven in court, and no criminal charges have been filed. Platner continues to deny wrongdoing.
The biggest political story here isn’t simply the allegation—it’s the speed with which Democratic leaders hit the eject button.
For months, many of these same politicians defended Graham Platner through a string of controversies that would have sunk most candidates. Then came an allegation this serious, and suddenly the endorsements disappeared faster than campaign signs after Election Day.
That’s not proof of guilt. Allegations deserve to be investigated fairly, and accusations are not convictions. Due process still matters, regardless of party.
But politics is often less about courtrooms than calculations. The Democratic leadership appears to have concluded that holding this Senate seat is more important than standing by the nominee they celebrated just weeks ago.
