MAINE — Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner paused his campaign and canceled events on Monday after Politico reported sexual assault allegations against him. Platner denied the claims, stating they were false.

Jenny Racicot, a 41-year-old Maine resident, accused Platner of sexual assault in 2021. Racicot alleged that Platner entered her rural Maine home while intoxicated and forced her to have sex over her repeated objections. She stated she maintained an on-and-off relationship with Platner before the incident and subsequently ended contact, informing him the encounter was not consensual.

Platner issued a statement calling the allegations "troubling, serious, and false." He said, "Any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically untrue." In a video, he added, "Regardless of the inaccuracy of the reporting, but mindful of the political reality it will inflict, we are taking the time to reflect on the best path forward for the state that I love, the people that I love, the movement I belong to and the goal of defeating Susan Collins." Platner's campaign claimed the accusations were "coached and coordinated by out of state establishment operatives."

Platner is challenging incumbent Senator Susan Collins. He defeated Maine Governor Janet Mills in the Democratic primary. Under state law, a Senate candidate must end their bid by July 13 for the party to nominate a replacement in time for the general election. A political committee has until July 27 to select a replacement nominee if the primary winner withdraws.

In June, The New York Times published accounts from three women who had previous romantic relationships with Platner. The article characterized his behavior as "unsettling" and described him as demeaning toward women and, in one instance, physically threatening. Platner told the newspaper he often abused alcohol and was "a far from perfect boyfriend" during a period he called "very dark." He also said, "Any characterization beyond that is false, and I believe, politically motivated." Additionally, Platner told Maine Public Radio that any suggestion he engaged in physically threatening behavior was "just not true."

Platner is a Marine veteran and an oysterman who has stated he struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder from multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2007, he unknowingly got a tattoo on his chest that resembled a Nazi symbol and has since covered it up. Last fall, deleted Reddit posts by Platner resurfaced, showing him making insensitive comments about Black and LGBTQ+ people and disparaging sexual assault victims. The Wall Street Journal reported that Platner exchanged sexually explicit messages with multiple women toward the start of his marriage, a report his campaign confirmed.