Maine Senate nominee faces new stealthing allegation
Democrats debate replacement after primary win, a general-election race turns into an internal vetting failure
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An ex-girlfriend accuses Maine U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner of removing condoms during sex without consent, which he denies (Getty)
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An ex-girlfriend previously accused Platner of sexual assault, which he also denies (Getty)
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Platner previously attracted criticism for having a since-modified tattoo featuring a Nazi skull and crossbones symbol, an association the Marine Corp veteran said he was unaware of when he got the tattoo after a night of drinking in 2007 (AP)
independent.co.uk
A Democratic US Senate candidate in Maine is facing a fresh sexual misconduct allegation as party officials weigh whether to keep him on the ballot against Republican incumbent Susan Collins.
According to The Independent, which cites reporting by The Washington Post, an ex-girlfriend, Lyndsey Fifield, alleges that Graham Platner repeatedly removed condoms during sex without her consent while they were dating in the Washington, DC, area years ago. Fifield said she was not on birth control and confronted Platner about the alleged behaviour, describing him as treating it lightly. Platner’s campaign denied the claim, calling it false and politically motivated, and pointed to Fifield’s past work in conservative politics.
The accusation lands after a separate ex-girlfriend, Jenny Racicot, accused Platner of sexual assault over an alleged incident in 2021, an allegation he has also denied. Platner has said he is reflecting on “the best path forward” for his campaign, while critics and some former allies have urged him to withdraw. The Independent reports that Senator Bernie Sanders publicly recommended that Platner step aside because of the seriousness of the allegations.
For Democrats, the episode is a test of how much pre-election vetting is real and how much is outsourced to the general election’s opposition research. Platner won his party’s primary despite earlier controversies, including scrutiny over past online posts and a tattoo he later modified after criticism of its symbolism, according to the report. Once a nominee is selected, the costs of reversal rise quickly: replacing a candidate can trigger legal deadlines, internal faction fights, and donor uncertainty, while keeping the candidate invites a campaign dominated by personal credibility rather than policy.
For Republicans, the dynamic is simpler. Every day the race remains focused on allegations and internal Democratic arguments is a day not spent on Collins’s record or on national issues that might otherwise define a Senate contest. For voters, the practical question becomes what evidence is produced, what standards the parties apply when the allegations target their own candidate, and who is asked to carry the risk if the claims remain unresolved.
Platner’s campaign has denied the allegations. The party’s next steps will determine whether Maine’s Senate race becomes an argument about control of Washington or a referendum on one candidate’s private conduct.