Sen. Ruben Gallego withdraws endorsement of Maine Senate nominee Graham Platner after rape allegation

Sen. Ruben Gallego withdrew his endorsement of Maine Senate nominee Graham Platner on Monday after a rape allegation surfaced. Both Platner and Swalwell have denied the allegations.

Allegations A Monday Politico report detailed the latest allegation from Jenny Racicot, who said she dated Platner on and off from 2019 to 2021. Racicot alleged that Platner entered her home uninvited in late 2021, ignored her objections, and forced her to have sex.

Politico reported reviewing text messages and emails with Racicot's therapist and speaking with people she said she confided in after the alleged incident. Platner denied the allegation as false. Earlier allegations against Platner appeared in a June 4 New York Times report.

Lyndsey Fifield, Platner's former girlfriend, told the Times that he repeatedly grabbed her hard enough to leave marks, pulled her from a cab by the wrist, and twisted her arm behind her back.

John Fetterman said people like Sen.

Bernie Sanders needed to apologize for backing Platner. Fetterman told Fox News' Laura Ingraham that he refused early on to look past the claims. A Gallego spokesperson told Fox News Digital that Gallego broke with individuals when he learned they had betrayed values he fights for.

Gallego called the accusations against Platner "troubling and deeply serious" in a social media post. Democratic operatives face a tight window under Maine election law to replace Platner if he withdraws from the race.