Maine Democratic Senate nominee faces rape allegation amid calls to exit race

Maine's Democratic Party is calling on its U.S. Senate nominee, Graham Platner, to end his campaign after a woman accused him of rape.

(NBC)- Maine’s Democratic Party is calling on its U.S. Senate nominee, Graham Platner, to end his campaign after a woman accused him of rape.

Platner said he is reassessing the future of his campaign following the allegation.

The woman, who said she was previously in a romantic relationship with Platner, alleges he forced her into non-consensual sex five years ago. She told CNN he continued despite her telling him to stop.

According to Politico, the woman also shared her account with a former boyfriend in the years after the alleged incident, and the publication reviewed documents, including emails between her and her therapist.

She told Politico that she still supports Platner politically but wanted voters to have “the whole scope of who he is as a person.”

Platner has denied the allegation, calling it “categorically false” and rejecting any accusation of non-consensual behavior.

The latest accusation comes after previous controversies involving the candidate, including allegations by a former girlfriend reported by The New York Times that he physically restrained her during an argument, which Platner has denied. He also faced criticism after covering a tattoo widely recognized as an SS symbol, saying he was unaware of its meaning when he got it.