The New York Times is facing criticism over its coverage of Graham Platner, the Democratic candidate for a Maine Senate seat, who is embroiled in sexual assault allegations. One of his accusers, Jenny Racicot, has publicly disputed how the paper handled her account, claiming that its reporters did not work to corroborate her story and misrepresented what she had told them. The controversy matters because it raises questions about the Times' editorial judgement at a moment when the allegations are threatening to derail Platner's campaign ahead of the midterm elections.

The dispute followed a Politico report published on the Monday, in which Racicot alleged that in 2021 a drunk Platner entered her home uninvited and had sex with her despite her repeatedly telling him to stop — conduct she has described as rape. Platner has firmly denied the allegations. Racicot had also featured in the Times' earlier exposé, which quoted her saying Platner "does not respect women"; however, the relevant paragraph appeared roughly 70 paragraphs into the piece, which focused largely on another ex-girlfriend, Lyndsey Fifield, and her own domestic abuse allegations. Racicot says she told the Times about her assault claim off the record and did not want to be publicly identified as a rape victim, contradicting the paper's suggestion that she had simply "declined to elaborate".