Maine's Democratic party leadership and top national officials demanded that US Senate candidate Graham Platner immediately withdraw from the race following a sexual assault allegation, as reported by The Guardian.
A Maine resident who previously dated Platner accused the Marine veteran of forcing her to have sex in late 2021, according to a report published by Politico.
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The scandal lands at a critical moment for Democrats, who view Maine as a key battleground to regain Senate control in November's midterm elections.
Platner rejected the accusation shortly after the media report surfaced.
He addressed the situation publicly through a social media video post, calling the allegations "troubling, serious and false."
Despite his denial, congressional leadership rapidly withdrew their backing of his campaign.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee chair Kirsten Gillibrand issued a joint statement demanding his resignation from the race.
California Representative Ro Khanna, previously one of Platner's strongest defenders, also publicly withdrew his support on social media.
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Khanna emphasized that violence against women constitutes an absolute red line for his endorsements.
"These allegations are very serious and credible. Graham Platner should drop out from the race.
I am withdrawing my endorsement," Khanna said.
Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, who had endorsed Platner earlier in March, joined the calls for his departure.
Warren stated that the party must maintain a zero-tolerance policy regarding sexual misconduct.
"There can be no tolerance for sexual assault," Warren said.
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She added that Platner needs to focus on addressing the claims outside of the political arena due to the high stakes of the upcoming election.
