Graham Platner suspends Maine Senate campaign after sexual assault allegation

Key Points:

• Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner has suspended his campaign following a sexual assault allegation from a woman who said the incident occurred five years ago during their relationship; Platner denied the accusations but cited pressure from Democrats as making continuation impossible.
• The Maine Democratic Party will hold a nominating convention by July 27 to select a new candidate to replace Platner, who must formally withdraw by Monday at 5 p.m.; several prominent Maine Democrats have expressed interest in the nomination.
• The allegations, made public by Jenny Racicot, include claims of forced entry and non-consensual sexual acts; Racicot described the incident as rape, while Platner called the accusations "categorically false" and politically motivated.
• Key Democratic figures, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, and Sen. Bernie Sanders, urged Platner to step aside, with the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee withdrawing financial support from his campaign.
• Platner's campaign was already marred by previous controversies involving problematic online posts, a tattoo with Nazi symbolism, and allegations of inappropriate behavior, which raised concerns about the viability of unseating Republican Sen. Susan Collins in the closely watched race.