U.S. Senate Democratic nominee Graham Platner’s campaign is hanging by a thread following a rape allegation from a woman he previously dated, leading his political allies to call for his exit from the race.

Jenny Racicot’s rape allegations against Platner are just the latest scandal to rock his campaign, which has been riddled with controversy since October. From sporting a Nazi-linked tattoo on his chest to being accused by ex-girlfriends of being physically abusive, Platner’s campaign has survived, with many of his supporters doubling down in support.

But Racicot recounted to both Politico and CNN how, in 2021, Platner, with whom she had an on-again, off-again relationship, barged into her home uninvited and intoxicated. Racicot alleged that, despite her protests, Platner had raped her. The allegations surfaced less than a week before the deadline for Platner to withdraw from the race, after which the Democratic Party would be able to replace him with another nominee.

TOP DEMOCRATIC SENATE HOPEFULS TURN ON PLATNER AFTER BOMBSHELL RAPE ALLEGATION

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., have all pulled their support for Platner. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who endorsed Platner just 11 days after he launched his campaign and has stood by him through every major controversy, also called on Platner to end his candidacy Tuesday.

But Republicans have questioned why Democratic leadership took so long to revoke that support despite all the controversies surrounding him.

Here’s a timeline of the allegations and controversies surrounding Graham Platner’s Senate campaign.

Platner’s Reddit Posts

Platner’s first major controversy erupted on Oct. 16, 2025, after CNN uncovered years of deleted Reddit posts he made between 2009 and 2021.

The posts revealed the Democratic Senate candidate once described himself as a «communist,» wrote that «all» police were bastards, and argued that many rural white Americans «actually are» racist and unintelligent. Other posts reflected how his combat experience in Iraq and Afghanistan had reshaped his politics, with Platner writing that America’s wars had left him disillusioned and «significantly more left» than when he enlisted.

Days later, additional reporting drew scrutiny to other deleted posts, including one in which Platner appeared to downplay concerns about sexual assault. In one post, Platner wrote that people should «take some responsibility for themselves» and avoid becoming so intoxicated that they end up in compromising situations.

PLATNER IN THE HOT SEAT AS MAINE VOTERS RIP HIS ‘HORRIBLE’ COMMENTS AMID REDDIT SCANDAL

Graham Platner and his wife, Amy Gertner acknowledge the crowd at his watch party after wining the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate at a YMCA in Blue Hill, Maine, June 9th 2026. Platner, who has drawn critcism for his history of having an Nazi tattoo among other transgressions, will face Republican Senator Susan Collins in the election for the seat. (Matthew Symons for Fox News Digital)

There are more than 2,000 posts by Platner on Reddit, which The Maine Monitor later compiled into a database.

Platner distanced himself from those posts, telling CNN at the time that he was «f—— around the internet» and that he was struggling in his return to civilian life after serving overseas in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

«I don’t want people to see me for who I was in my worst Internet comment—or even frankly who I was in my best Internet comment,» Platner told CNN. «I don’t think any of that is indicative of who I am today, really.»

At the time the Reddit posts resurfaced, Sanders, and Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., stood by Platner. Gallego said Platner had «the right to grow out of his stupidity.»

«There’s a young man who served his country in Afghanistan and Iraq, and he went through some really difficult experiences seeing friends of his killed or whatever, and in spite of all of that he had the courage to run,» Sanders said of Platner, who Sanders endorsed just eleven days after launching his campaign.

The Totenkopf tattoo

Platner faced another controversy after his campaign, seeking to get ahead of opposition research, released a video on Oct. 21 during an appearance on Pod Save America showing him dancing shirtless at his brother’s wedding. The footage revealed a chest tattoo that critics said resembled the Nazi SS Totenkopf, or «Death’s Head,» symbol, prompting widespread condemnation and renewed questions about his judgment.

The image prompted widespread condemnation and renewed questions about his judgment. Platner said he got the tattoo while drinking with fellow Marines in Croatia in 2007 and believed it was simply a skull-and-crossbones design commemorating surviving combat. He said he was unaware of its association with Nazi Germany until the issue surfaced during his Senate campaign, apologized, and initially pledged to have it removed before instead covering it with a Celtic knot tattoo.

SEE IT: MAINE VOTERS SOUND OFF ON PLATNER’S DIVISIVE CAMPAIGN AS CRUCIAL PRIMARY NEARS: ‘HE’S A DISGRACE’

The controversy intensified after subsequent reporting questioned Platner’s claim that he had been unaware of the symbol’s meaning, citing former acquaintances and past online activity suggesting he may have known its meaning years earlier, a claim Platner rejected.

In the aftermath, Sanders brushed off concerns over Platner’s tattoo, arguing there were more important issues.

«I’m not overly impressed by a squad of media running around saying, ‘What do you think about the tattoo on Graham Platner’s chest?’» Sanders told Axios.

Platner’s sexting scandal

The New York Times reported on May 30 that Platner’s wife, Amy Gertner, had privately informed senior campaign officials that he exchanged sexually explicit messages with other women during the early years of their marriage, raising concerns about the political fallout.

Platner was using the app Kik to send messages and photos to women.

Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner headlines a rally in Bar Harbor, Maine on June 5, 2026 (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News)

Former campaign political director Genevieve McDonald said Gertner told her that her husband had been exchanging sexual messages with as many as a dozen women, while another campaign official said the number was lower and that the conduct had ended before the campaign launched.

The issue surfaced during an internal vetting process ahead of a high-profile Labor Day rally with Sanders.

The discovery prompted outcry from Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., who called Platner a «creeper.»

However, Sanders and Schumer doubled down on their support for Platner, saying they believed he could defeat incumbent Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.

Abusive Partner allegations

Days after reports about sexually explicit messages surfaced, The New York Times published on June 4, 2026, interviews with six of Platner’s former romantic partners, offering sharply different accounts of their relationships with the Democratic Senate candidate.

Three women described him as kind, supportive and someone who never made them feel unsafe, but three others painted a far more troubling picture, alleging volatile relationships marked by heavy drinking, infidelity and behavior they found emotionally damaging.

Former girlfriend Lyndsey Fifield said Platner sometimes grabbed her hard enough to leave marks and, during one argument, twisted her arm behind her back, pushed her into a bedroom and held the door shut until she «calmed down.» Platner denied allegations of physical intimidation, and the Times wrote that it could not corroborate her allegations.

Susan Collins and Graham Platner. (Graeme Sloan/Getty Images ; Sophie Park/Getty Images)

In a lengthy X post, Fifield took fire at the New York Times for not adequately verifying her story. She claimed that she gave the reporters five phone numbers, but the Times reported they only reached out to two people.

«I actually understand why Democrat leaders didn’t take our stories seriously when the Times reported them in June but are taking them seriously now,» Fifield wrote on X. «It was by design.»

«They called the two who I clarified would not know about the abuse but would be able to affirm our relationship timeline, events, etc,» Fifield continued. «They simply did not call the other three.»

Fifield, a longtime GOP operative who dated Platner on and off from 2013 to 2015, faced scrutiny after coming forward with allegations that Platner was abusive. Platner’s campaign and Platner himself argued her claims were politically motivated, pointing to her long history of working for Republican causes.

Racicot was also interviewed by the Times, and she alluded to the alleged sexual assault that she said occurred in 2021.

Racicot said it was the attacks on Fifield which compelled her to step forward and tell Politico the full story of her sexual assault by Graham.

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When asked about the allegations against Platner, Sanders said at the National Press Club on June 8 that it’s a «political smokescreen.»

«Republican super PACS want to defeat him,» said Sanders of Platner, adding, «He is going to be a strong voice against oligarchy.»

Pressure mounts on Platner to withdraw

Platner has now lost the support of Democratic Party leaders, who continued to back him despite controversies over his Reddit posts, a sexting scandal and allegations from former partners. But the latest allegation of rape proved to be a breaking point.

Platner said on Monday that his campaign is «taking the time to reflect on the best path forward.»

Fox News Digital reached out to Platner’s campaign for further comment.

El MAGA de Guatemala puso en vigor el Acuerdo 107-2026, que obliga a salas de ordeño y centros de acopio de leche cruda con licencia sanitaria a someterse a vigilancia de residuos y contaminantes bajo un enfoque de riesgo, una medida que toma como referencia los límites del Codex Alimentarius y prevé sanciones cuando haya riesgos para la inocuidad de los alimentos o la salud pública.

La norma deroga el Acuerdo Ministerial No. 22-2026, emitido el 10 de febrero de este año, porque requería ajustes en sus términos para facilitar su verificación e implementación.

El nuevo acuerdo fue firmado el 1 de julio de 2026 por la ministra María Fernanda Rivera Dávila y entró en vigencia al día siguiente de su publicación en el Diario de Centro América, el 7 de julio de 2026.

La disposición alcanza a propietarios, administradores y responsables de salas de ordeño y centros de acopio de leche cruda con Licencia Sanitaria de Funcionamiento.

Todos deberán permitir el acceso del personal técnico encargado de los procedimientos de control sanitario y del muestreo de residuos de medicamentos veterinarios, plaguicidas y otros contaminantes.

La toma de muestras recaerá en el personal técnico del Departamento de Productos de Origen Animal e Hidrobiológicos, que pertenece a la Dirección de Inocuidad del Viceministerio de Sanidad Agropecuaria y Regulaciones. Los análisis se realizarán en el laboratorio de esa Dirección o en cualquier laboratorio con reconocimiento oficial.

El mismo departamento será el responsable de recibir los informes de resultados de laboratorio, registrarlos y analizarlos. Esa función concentra en una sola dependencia la gestión de datos del sistema de vigilancia.

La regla central del acuerdo fija que los límites máximos de residuos en leche cruda se determinarán con base en los valores oficiales del Codex Alimentarius, el sistema internacional de normas alimentarias de la Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Alimentación y la Agricultura. La norma también admite la aplicación de otras disposiciones que resulten pertinentes.

Si un análisis supera esos límites, la Dirección de Inocuidad deberá notificar al propietario del establecimiento. Después tendrá que solicitar un plan de acción correctiva y ordenar nuevos muestreos para verificar su cumplimiento.

Cuando haya resultados por encima de los valores permitidos, el costo de los muestreos adicionales correrá por cuenta del responsable del establecimiento. Esa obligación económica se activa como parte del seguimiento correctivo exigido por la autoridad sanitaria.

El acuerdo también establece que el incumplimiento expone a las salas de ordeño y centros de acopio a las sanciones previstas en el Libro III del Código de Salud, Decreto Número 90-97 del Congreso de la República de Guatemala. Esas medidas se aplican cuando las infracciones afecten la inocuidad de los alimentos o representen un riesgo para la salud pública.

La base jurídica de la disposición incluye la Constitución Política de la República de Guatemala, que impone al Estado el deber de controlar la calidad de los productos alimenticios, farmacéuticos, químicos y de todos aquellos que puedan afectar la salud y el bienestar de los habitantes. La normativa también se apoya en la Ley del Organismo Ejecutivo y en el Reglamento Orgánico Interno del MAGA, contenido en el Acuerdo Gubernativo No. 338-2010.

La ministra María Fernanda Rivera Dávila propone un giro a políticas regenerativas

En paralelo, la ministra María Fernanda Rivera Dávila participó en la inauguración del XIII Congreso Forestal Nacional COFONA 2026, un encuentro que reúne a especialistas, instituciones, academia y el sector forestal de todo el país para intercambiar conocimientos y fortalecer el manejo sostenible de los bosques.

En su intervención, Rivera planteó un cambio de enfoque en las políticas del ministerio hacia la agricultura y ganadería regenerativas, y destacó el aporte del programa Suelos y Agua para el Futuro. “En el ministerio estamos haciendo un cambio hacia la agricultura y ganadería regenerativas versus la sostenibilidad. Ya no basta solo detener el daño, debemos revertirlo”, indicó.

El congreso aborda cuatro ejes: manejo y conservación de los bosques, innovación y tecnología aplicada al sector forestal, cambio climático y sus impactos, y los retos que enfrenta Guatemala para mejorar la gestión de sus recursos naturales. La ministra afirmó que el objetivo es seguir fortaleciendo alianzas con el sector forestal para impulsar un desarrollo rural sostenible que integre producción, conservación y bienestar comunitario.

Hamas announced Monday that it was dissolving the emergency committee overseeing Gaza’s civilian government, a move that could clear the way for a new U.S.-backed administration to take over civilian affairs.

The proposed body, known as the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), is a U.S.-backed committee intended to oversee civilian affairs in Gaza after the war. 

Hamas, which the U.S. designates as a foreign terrorist organization, has ruled Gaza since seizing control of the territory in 2007. The group led the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel that triggered the war, and Israel has insisted Hamas can have no governing or military role in post-war Gaza.

The announcement could therefore become a key test of President Donald Trump’s Gaza framework and broader regional diplomacy. A genuine transfer of power could help advance the establishment of a post-war administration. But Israel and Hamas’ critics say the group is offering to relinquish the burdens of civilian government while retaining its weapons, security apparatus and real influence on the ground.

HILLARY CLINTON BREAKS WITH DEMOCRATIC CRITICS BY BACKING TRUMP’S GAZA PLAN AS THE ‘ONLY GAME IN TOWN’

The Trump-led Board of Peace responded cautiously, saying its assessment would be «guided by actions, not promises.» The technocratic committee, which is currently based outside Gaza, has said it is prepared to begin operating once conditions allow.

But the announcement did not include a commitment by Hamas to disarm, the central demand from Israel and a core element of Trump’s post-war framework.

Alaa Abo Naddi, a Gazan teacher and political activist, said that the committee Hamas is dissolving was never the source of its real authority.

«I believe this is simply an attempt by Hamas to buy time,» Abo Naddi said. «The real question has always been whether Hamas is willing to give up its weapons and dismantle the armed groups and militias under its control.» AJS: I’d move this up to maybe fourth graph. 

He said Gaza’s civilian officials have long operated without independent authority and remain subordinate to Hamas’ security apparatus.

«In reality, even a low-ranking Hamas security officer can overrule them or have them arrested,» he said. «As long as Hamas retains its arms, this looks like an attempt to preserve its control and gain more time.»

NETANYAHU REJECTS REPORTS OF A RIFT WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP, SAYS THE TWO REMAIN ALIGNED ON IRAN

U.S. President Donald Trump holds the signed agreement of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, October 13, 2025. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)

Hadeel Oueis, editor-in-chief of the pan-Arab media outlet Jusoor News, similarly described the announcement as a «performative step» likely encouraged by one of Hamas’ regional backers.

Oueis said the move appeared intended to send Trump a message that Hamas had fulfilled its obligations and that Israel was now responsible for blocking the next phase of his plan.

«This is just a show and doesn’t change anything on the ground in reality,» Oueis told Fox News Digital. 

She noted that technical employees are expected to remain in place during the transition, arguing that Hamas would therefore remain the de facto authority unless its security and military structures were removed.

Michael Milshtein, head of the Palestinian Studies Forum at Tel Aviv University’s Moshe Dayan Center, also characterized the dissolution as largely symbolic but said its timing could signal a broader diplomatic effort.

Milshtein said Egypt, Qatar and Turkey have been working with Hamas to develop a compromise that could move the stalled post-war arrangement forward, particularly on the issue of disarmament.

Rather than demanding the immediate and complete surrender of Hamas’ weapons, he said the mediators may be pushing for a gradual and partial process that Hamas could accept.

«I assess that the step Hamas took today is part of a move coordinated with Turkey, Qatar and Egypt, intended to begin advancing the broader arrangement,» Milshtein told Fox News Digital.

He said Hamas had effectively thrown the ball into Israel’s court and could now argue that it had agreed to relinquish formal government control.

HAMAS INFLUENCE LOOMS OVER GAZA ELECTIONS AS EXPERTS WARN VOTE COULD BACKFIRE

A Palestinian man collects food from a humanitarian aid distribution point in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, on Sunday, July 20, 2025.  (Ahmad Salem/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar rejected that distinction Tuesday, accusing Hamas of trying to reproduce the model used by Hezbollah in Lebanon, where an armed organization maintains military dominance while civilian institutions handle government services.

«They don’t care if others collect the garbage, provide municipal services and administer civilian affairs, if Hamas will remain the dominant military force,» Sa’ar said during a meeting with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul.

Sa’ar said Israel would continue to insist on the «disarmament of Hamas and all other terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip, and its full demilitarization.»

Wadephul backed that position, saying Hamas must relinquish both its weapons and its de facto control of Gaza.

The United Nations also offered a cautiously positive response.

 U.N. spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the organization had taken note of Hamas’ announcement concerning the dissolution of the Government Emergency Committee and the proposed transfer of administrative responsibilities to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza.

«We welcome any step that contributes to the implementation of the ceasefire agreement and advances the objectives reflected in relevant Security Council resolutions, including the full implementation of the ceasefire, the protection of civilians, and the unhindered provision of humanitarian aid,» Dujarric said.

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Hamas terrorists stand guard on the day of the handover of hostages held in Gaza since the deadly October 7 2023 attack, as part of a ceasefire and a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, Feb. 22, 2025. (Hatem Khaled/Reuters)

He added that the U.N. continued to support «efforts toward unified Palestinian governance under the Palestinian Authority.»

Milshtein said the real test would be whether the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza is allowed to enter Gaza, operate independently and exercise genuine authority, while Hamas gives up not only its civilian role but also its security and military control.