BREAKING: Graham Platner suspends Maine Senate campaign

Bernie Sanders, Liz Warren, Ro Khanna and others all suggested strongly that he step down after the account from Jennifer Racicot was published in Politico. Following that, Lyndsey Fifield, who had made allegations of sexual misconduct against Platner in a June New York Times article, then came out as well with additional accusations.

Platner made the announcement in a lengthy video posted to social media.

https://twitter.com/grahamformaine/status/2075009677495058687?s=20

In the video, he denies all allegations against him, saying that they are "not real," but acknowledging the "weight" it has placed on him. He said that he and his wife are "regular people" who were "not looking for this," and that "large forces" were working against him to take him down.

The way he learned about the allegations, he said, was through press inquiries and that he was unable to respond before "a corporate media system and the political establishment got to act as judge, jury, and executioner. Accusations are supposed to be the beginning of things, not the end."

He went on to explain "why this is happening in the timeline," discussing "October, when the first attack started," and alleged that the attacks are coming simply to get him off of the ballot. He claimed that the "false allegations" are being used by "the political establishment to put structural pressure on us."

Platner said that the American political system is not built for normal people and thanked his supporters. He said he still believed that he could win in November against Susan Collins, incumbent Senator. But said that "they are going to take everything away from us. Those in power who have the ability to do so are using these allegations as an excuse to take away all of the things that we need to run a campaign."

The fallout from the allegations, he said, will prevent his campaign from functioning. It is unclear who the Democrats of Maine will find to replace Platner. The nominee must be secured by July 13.

"What comes next needs to come from the people," Platner said. He said that those who voted for him voted "against the political system, against the donor class, against the entrenched forces." Platner said the choice of who becomes the Democrat nominee needs to be made transparently by and for the people of Maine, not by party aparatchiks.