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Graham Platner suspended his U.S. Senate run successful Maine connected Wednesday, clearing nan measurement for Democrats successful that authorities to take a caller campaigner arsenic they activity to retake power of nan chamber.
“We judge that for nan activity to continue, it can’t beryllium me,” Platner said successful a video posted to societal media connected Wednesday. “And for that logic we are suspending run operations.”
He added, “We are not doing it because of nan allegations. We are doing it because of nan structures that are being taken distant from america by those successful power.”
Platner, an oysterman, galvanized progressives arsenic he campaigned arsenic an extracurricular against nan Washington establishment, but he was beset pinch a bid of revelations that put him connected defense. When Politico published a communicative connected Monday of a woman’s allegation that he sexually assaulted her, he denied nan declare but said that he was reassessing his bid to return connected Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME).
“The things that person been claimed did not happen; it’s not real,” Platner said.
A female who erstwhile dated Platner, Jenny Racinot, told Politico that Platner forced her to person activity pinch him 5 years ago.
Platner had until Monday to exit nan race. Democrats will not person until July 27 to prime a replacement candidate. The Maine Democratic Party plans to clasp a nominating convention, but has not announced specifications connected nan process.
