Former aides to President Barack Obama, now co-hosts of the popular podcast «Pod Save America,» have called on Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner to withdraw from the race after a rape allegation surfaced against him. Tommy Vietor, a former Obama spokesman, and Jon Lovett, a former Obama speechwriter, said during Monday’s episode that the allegations appear credible and that Platner has not been fully transparent about his past.
Maine resident Jenny Racicot accused Platner of rape in interviews with Politico and CNN on Monday. Racicot alleged that nearly five years ago, Platner entered her home uninvited while intoxicated and forced himself on her. She told Politico that she immediately cut ties with him after the incident, recalling, «I remember the specific moment where I thought to myself, like, ‘This is no longer my choice.’»
Vietor described the allegations as «really bad and troubling,» adding that they are «backed up by documentation.» He also responded to a video in which Platner addressed the accusations, saying, «My takeaway from that video was that he’s going to drop out of the race. I think he has to drop out of the race.» Vietor noted that Platner had attracted voters who were willing to overlook previous controversies, including posts on Reddit and a tattoo-related story, but argued that the cumulative weight of the allegations makes it impossible for him to continue.
Lovett agreed, stating, «He has to end the campaign so that we have a chance of defeating Susan Collins. I think the story is horrible.» Lovett pointed out that Platner has not been transparent about his past, particularly regarding the tattoo incident, and that his denials have not been supported by subsequent reporting. «Even here in the story, which is deeply reported, backed up by contemporaneous evidence and previous conversations, it comports with what he said, which is that he was drinking a lot, and the story describes him as being drunk, potentially not remembering it the next day,» Lovett said. «And so then we have a video of him categorically denying something which it doesn’t seem he’s really in a position to deny.»
Lovett further argued that Platner may have deceived himself about his past behavior. «It is clear that this is somebody that has not maybe even been honest with himself about what was going on in the dark phases of his life. But that is not for us to deal with in a Senate race that will determine the control of the Senate,» he said.
The calls for Platner’s withdrawal come amid a broader pattern of controversies that have dogged his campaign. Earlier reports detailed his past struggles with alcohol and a tattoo that some interpreted as a symbol of white supremacy, though Platner denied that interpretation. The latest allegation has intensified pressure from within the Democratic Party, with some party figures arguing that Platner’s continued candidacy could jeopardize efforts to unseat Republican Senator Susan Collins in a closely watched race.
Platner’s campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital. The candidate has not publicly addressed the calls for his withdrawal as of Monday evening.
The race for Maine’s Senate seat is considered a key battleground in the fight for control of the Senate. Collins, a moderate Republican, has held the seat since 1997 and faces a competitive challenge in a state that has trended Democratic in recent years. Platner, a progressive Democrat, had positioned himself as an outsider challenging the party establishment, but the mounting allegations have eroded support among key Democratic figures.
Vietor and Lovett’s remarks reflect growing unease among national Democrats about the potential fallout from Platner’s candidacy. Vietor acknowledged that Platner had genuine appeal with voters frustrated with the political establishment, but questioned whether any candidate could now channel that anger while also being thoroughly vetted. «I don’t know who in Maine can speak to that anger, but also has been vetted by the party and has been through the political process,» he said.
The development underscores the challenges facing the Democratic Party in Maine as it seeks to flip a Senate seat that has been held by a Republican for nearly three decades. With the primary election approaching, party leaders are weighing whether to rally behind an alternative candidate or risk a divisive contest that could benefit Collins.
