No Matter What, He Must Step Down

Illustrated by John Klossner

Written: July 7th

*Disclaimer: This essay discusses sexual assault.

I was as surprised as anyone when on July 6th, POLITICO released an exclusive interview with Jenny Racicot, who claims that candidate for Maine Senator, Graham Platner, sexually assaulted her in 2021. I read the article. I read op-eds the following morning. In a political climate so entrenched with sexual scandals I was, horrifically, unsurprised. 

The truth is, I was excited when Platner won the party’s nomination last month. His political sheet seemed to host a healthy balance of progressive policies and was dampened by his working class background which would appeal to Maine voters. After the adrenaline rush of Mamdani’s victory in New York earlier this year, progressive Democrats saw him as the key to flipping the senate and as a waypoint for a new party idealism.

Since POLITICO’s article went live, Platner’s campaign has worked mercilessly to deny the allegations. They claim them as political distraction; the ballot deadline is next week after all. Despite that, prominent figures have rescinded their endorsements, including the likes of Elizabeth Warren and Maine’s Democratic leadership. Platner has been hung out to dry. And for good reason.

What has angered me most since the allegations’ release is the public’s reaction. What should have been a unanimous dismissal of Platner has instead triggered arguments over political motive and party power. Although politicians seem to broadly condemn Platner, social media is filled with people arguing for him to remain in the race. There’s a variety of justifications, with some agreeing the allegations are a political tactic, while others say Platner’s resignation would be the death of democratic socialism in America.

If the death of America’s democratic socialist movement comes from the dismissal of an accused rapist, then America’s political climate is so far gone that no democratic socialist would have made a difference anyways. We’ve lived with the released Epstein files for 8 months and have made no convictions. We KNOW for a fact that sexual abusers, adulterers, and child molesters hold power in every facet of our government, yet there have been no repercussions. If democratic socialism dies out because party leadership was responsible enough to hold one of their own accountable, then at least we went out with integrity.

If Platner continues his campaign, no matter the results of an investigation, it is a lose-lose. Found guilty? We’ve let another attain a position of federal power. Found innocent? Democrats lose all ethical standing to prosecute for the Epstein files. Platner staying in this race, whether he has support from his party or not, sets a precedent that I’m not sure can ever be undone. This is not a party issue, it’s not political, it’s a legal, moral, human issue.

We’ve become desensitized to claims of sexual assault in positions of power. Turning a blind eye is easier than mass uprising, from starting, largely, anew. As I’ve been scouring the internet, I’ve seen a hopeless amount of people arguing that the allegations were unsubstantiated, that indeed, they were fabricated for the sake of political destruction. Between 2 and 10 percent. That’s the rate of false claims to sexual assault, meaning that over 90% of reported cases have substantiated bases.

It feels like a hopelessly ending cycle. Public figure has sexual abuse charges brought against them-everyone cries wolf about false allegations-everyone forgets. If the Democrats want to continue convincing themselves that they’re the party of women, their decision with Platner is a no-brainer.

I’m a white, left-leaning, male writer. But to have spent much of the last few years speaking out against Trump and Co’s litany of crimes, it would not only be in bad taste to avoid speaking out against Platner’s, it would be a betrayal to the sanctity of political integrity–however much that remains.

We’re at a crossroads. We’ve been navigating this dark road for many years, we’ve dismissed and ignored and justified for too long. Because his politics were on our side doesn’t excuse him from consequence. In fact, it’s BECAUSE he’s on our side that he must be held accountable to the highest extent. I fear the future if he’s not.