'You endorsed Trump': Gallego hits back at Mike Lee's Platner denial, citing E. Jean Carroll verdict

A series of fresh sexual assault allegations against Graham Platner has thrown the Maine Senate race into turmoil, with Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) rescinding his endorsement of the Democratic candidate. This caught the attention of Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), who sought to score political points by noting he had never endorsed Platner. Gallego had a response ready: "But you endorsed Trump, who was found to have committed rape. Might want to sit this one out," he wrote on X, referring to Trump's liability finding in the E. Jean Carroll case. 

In the post Lee had tagged in his taunt, Gallego had characterized the allegations against Platner as "troubling and deeply serious." The withdrawal comes in the wake of a woman accusing Platner of forcing himself on her while intoxicated. Jenny Racicot, a Maine resident, accused the 41-year-old of showing up at her home, deeply intoxicated, roughly five years ago, and said he forced himself on her despite her repeatedly asking him to stop, according to POLITICO.

The allegations triggered widespread criticism, with the Maine Democratic Party calling on Platner to exit the race. Gallego was not the only one to pull his endorsement. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) wrote on X: "I've been very clear that sexual assault or violence against women is a red line. These allegations are very serious and credible. Graham Platner should drop out from the race. I am withdrawing my endorsement."

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chair Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) said in a statement that they will not invest in the Maine Senate race if Platner remains on the ballot. "The allegations reported today are incredibly disturbing–violence, abuse, and sexual assault are absolutely unacceptable. Graham Platner needs to immediately withdraw and allow Maine Democrats the opportunity to choose a new candidate who can defeat Susan Collins," they asserted.

Platner denied the allegations, calling them "troubling, serious and false" in a statement, and said in a video posted on X: "Any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically false. Regardless of the inaccuracy of the reporting, mindful of the political reality it will inflict, we are taking the time to reflect on the best path forward," Platner said, who is now under tremendous pressure to voluntarily withdraw before the July 13 deadline, which would give Maine Democratic Party officials until July 27 to name a new candidate, as per Zeteo.

The campaign had been beset with controversies long before Racicot's allegations came to light. In the weeks leading up to his primary, Platner faced intense scrutiny over reports of sexually explicit texts sent to multiple women during his marriage, along with a since-covered-up tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol, which he has said he did not understand the meaning of when he got it in the Marine Corps. Three women told The New York Times that their relationships with Platner were "toxic" and marked by heavy drinking and demeaning behavior.