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Woman who dated Graham Platner says he sexually assaulted her (www.politico.com)

submitted 3 weeks ago by Salamence@mander.xyz to c/progressivepolitics@lemmy.world

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cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/62988948

A woman who dated Maine U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner says he forced her to have sex with him nearly five years ago despite her repeated objections, an allegation Platner denies.

The woman, a 41-year-old Maine resident named Jenny Racicot, detailed the alleged incident to POLITICO in three interviews over the past two weeks. POLITICO also spoke with a man Racicot dated and confided in the years after the alleged incident, and reviewed documents, including emails between Racicot and her therapist and messages between Racicot and an acquaintance whom she warned against getting involved with Platner years before he ran for office.

Racicot said she had an on-and-off relationship with Platner, who is now the Democratic Senate nominee in Maine, for more than two years before he entered her rural Maine home uninvited one night in late 2021, deeply intoxicated, and forced himself on her while she repeatedly told him to stop. She said she cut off contact with him after telling him the encounter was not consensual.

“I remember him grabbing my pelvis and being really forceful of me,” she said. “I remember the specific moment where I thought to myself, like, ‘This is no longer my choice.’”

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[–] DoubleDongle@lemmy.world 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Right at an ideal time to impact the midterms, amidst a flurry of anti-leftist astroturfing I noticed starting yesterday. I've got some doubts.

[–] WhoIzDisIz@lemmy.today 17 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Nah, he's been showing warning signs all the way, but people wanted to believe him too much so l just avoided the arguments. I've felt he was deliberately elevated by the oligarchs since the beginning for just this moment.

[–] Zaktor@sopuli.xyz -3 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Oh yes, the oligarchs would love for someone promoting wealth taxes and extensive social programs to become popular and potentially win a senate seat. It's all going to plan. /s

[–] WhoIzDisIz@lemmy.today 10 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

Do I seriously have to explain this?

That's what got him attention - giving people what they wanted to hear. Those backing him knew he was a ticking time bomb, and knew the rug would be pulled out (although it's a bit sooner than I expected). The goal is to leave little time to build trust in another candidate that isn't in their pocket.

[–] NuXCOM_90Percent@lemmy.zip 1 points 3 weeks ago

He ran on a populist platform. just like trump and fetterman did. There were countless bright red flags (some with windmills on them...) but people ignored it because he was going to give them universal healthcare and DRAIN THE SWAMP.

And, like basically every other populist politician, odds are he was going to completely ignore his campaign promises and just enrich himself in office. Just like trump and fetterman did.

And yeah, there is this narrative that he is the underdog and a disruptor candidate. He is a rich white guy in Maine who was backed by establishment Democrats and center-left podcast bros like Pod Save America. Sanders went hard on him but... Bernie has a history of some REALLY stupid endorsements and he is pretty establishment Democrat at this point if you actually look beyond 2016.

I don't know if I think he is a full on oligarch plant (Well, I do know and I don't). I think he is just every other sociopathic rich guy who wants to cash in on having a good smile and not caring about fucking over his constituents. He just got caught with his hand in the rape jar one too many times... BEFORE getting into office.

[–] Zaktor@sopuli.xyz -1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Platner even winning the primary is damaging to the oligarchs. Him saying wealth taxes and Medicare for All and out polling Collins is bad for them even if he's forced out.

They had a candidate who would be in their pocket. She lost the primary. And if they wanted someone to lose to Collins, she was doing that too.

And if you think this is all an oligarch plan, then this woman's accusations now are at their behest and thus suspect. You can't think she's a sincere victim just acting on her own timetable and also that this is a planned downfall.

[–] WhoIzDisIz@lemmy.today 6 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Did you even read the article? They validated the heck out of her story.

There's little chance of finding another electable candidate, getting them sufficiently funded, awareness & trust built, etc. in time to beat Collins. That was the plan.

[–] Zaktor@sopuli.xyz -4 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

So is she truthful or is she a tool of the oligarchs?

[–] WhoIzDisIz@lemmy.today 2 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

~~She's a tool, but it's a case of "the evil you know is better than the one you don't."~~

EDIT: Wait - do you mean Collins, or the accuser? My initial response was for Collins, the accuser seems on the up & up from the reporting. Read the article for yourself & decide.

[–] Zaktor@sopuli.xyz 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

She seems credible and at least as reported without ulterior motive, which is why saying she's been part of a long plan by the oligarchs doesn't make sense. The timing is a little suspicious, but people have emotions, which could even include releasing something when it's most damaging to someone who's wronged you.

The only avenue available for Platner's win to be an oligarch plan was if they knew for sure this would come out at a politically advantageous time, which would only be true if she was colluding with them for months.

[–] WhoIzDisIz@lemmy.today 2 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

She wasn't specifically part of the plan, they just knew his problematic past would inevitably blow up his campaign (and if it didn't happen by itself, then I'm sure they had something in reserve for the usual "October Bombshell").

The timing was likely caused by conflict within her - does she inevitably make herself a national spectacle (and target for some), or does she allow someone with questionable scruples to get into a position of power? I know I'd have difficulty with that choice.

Platner winning wasn't the plan - blowing up any credible challenge to Collins was.