The embattled Maine U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner has been accused of drunkenly raping a woman, sparking a scramble among progressive Democrats who had previously endorsed him.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren released a statement Monday night, calling for Platner to step aside from the Democratic nomination and addressing the allegations outside of the Senate race. Warren had previously praised Platner as "my kind of man" at an April rally. Her statement emphasized the need for leaders who reflect the party's values and have no tolerance for sexual assault.
As allegations against Platner surfaced, numerous progressive Democrats reversed their support for the candidate. Sen. Bernie Sanders initially remained silent on the matter until Tuesday, when he recommended that Platner step aside. Sanders had previously expressed his commitment to helping Platner win the Senate seat.
Left-wing commentators and prominent Democrats alike were quick to distance themselves from Platner. Fox News Digital reached out to several individuals, but many failed to respond. Others took to social media to express their regret and call for Platner to drop out of the race.
Former Obama aides and hosts of the "Pod Save America" podcast, Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, Dan Pfeiffer, and Tommy Vietor, were among those who initially supported Platner. However, after the allegations surfaced, they reversed their positions and called for Platner to drop out. Prominent Democrats such as Rep. Ro Khanna, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chair Kirsten Gillibrand also abandoned Platner's campaign.
