President Donald Trump weighed in Wednesday on the allegations facing former Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, saying the controversy ultimately comes down to whether people believe the accusations made against the Democrat.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump addressed the sexual assault allegations that had engulfed Platner’s campaign and raised questions about the claims.
“It’s really a question of whether or not you believe the woman. A lot of people say big falsehoods,” Trump said.
The president also acknowledged the difficult position Platner found himself in amid the growing controversy.
“He’s in a bind,” Trump added.
Trump’s comments came just hours before Platner announced he was suspending his campaign and dropping out of Maine’s U.S. Senate race following mounting pressure over multiple allegations and other controversies that had overshadowed his candidacy.
Platner had been facing two accusations of rape, along with renewed scrutiny over past online remarks and a tattoo that resembled a Nazi symbol.
In an 11-minute video released Wednesday, Platner firmly denied the allegations and insisted the accusations against him were untrue.
“I just want to make it clear. This is all false. The things that have been claimed did not happen. It’s not real,” Platner said.
Despite maintaining his innocence, Platner announced that he was suspending campaign operations, saying the controversy had become an overwhelming burden.
“It has placed an immense amount of weight on me as I think about what needs to happen now,” he said in the video.
Platner also suggested the timing of the allegations was politically motivated. He noted that they surfaced only days before the July 13 deadline for candidates to withdraw from the race, arguing that the accusations were intended to prevent him from reaching the November general election.
According to Platner, members of the Democratic establishment preferred that incumbent Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, remain in office rather than see him become the party’s nominee.
“They would rather see Susan Collins win than have me be the next senator from Maine,” Platner told his supporters.
The allegations quickly prompted several prominent Democrats to distance themselves from Platner’s campaign.
Among those withdrawing their endorsements were Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., two of Platner’s most prominent backers during the race.
Following Platner’s decision to suspend his campaign, Our Revolution, the political organization founded by Sanders, endorsed former Maine state Sen. Troy Jackson to replace Platner on the ballot.
Jackson signaled that he hopes to continue advancing the political movement that had developed around Platner’s campaign.
During a Wednesday appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Jackson said he intends to “go forward” with that movement by advocating for policies including “Medicare for all, workers’ rights, prescription drugs” while also “trying to do something about this war.”
Platner’s departure marks a dramatic end to his Senate campaign after a series of allegations and controversies rapidly transformed the race. While Platner continues to deny the accusations and argues they were politically timed, the allegations prompted key supporters to abandon his candidacy, ultimately leading him to suspend campaign operations ahead of Maine’s candidate withdrawal deadline.
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