Jenny Racicot, who has accused Democratic Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner of sexual assault, has publicly rejected suggestions that her allegations are politically motivated. Speaking to CNN's Jake Tapper, she said she came forward because she did not want to contribute to a culture in which men rely on women's silence to hold positions of power. The matter is significant because it comes amid a closely watched Senate race and threatens to damage Platner's campaign.

Racicot's detailed claims were first reported by Politico, based on three interviews, in which she alleged that Platner forced her to have sex against her will in 2021 while he was "almost blackout drunk". She told Tapper she faced a "huge moral conflict" because she shares Platner's political views and admires his stances, and said she would not necessarily urge people not to vote for him. Asked whether she believed she had been raped, she replied, "By definition? Yes, absolutely." Platner has vehemently denied the allegations.