Piker read the story aloud on his Twitch stream shortly after it was published. He read the portion of the report that cited Maine resident Jenny Racicot’s documents, emails with her therapist and messages to an acquaintance who warned about getting involved with Platner.
“That is curtains … That is the trifecta, OK? That is the trifecta of a reliable allegation. It’s –– holy s—. Personal firsthand testimony to a friend, a close confidante, back from way before Graham Platner ever f—ing ran for Congress, are you kidding me? And then also direct testimony to a therapist?” Piker said.
The streamer added that he believed the allegations against Platner. He said that there are verifiable aspects — including documentation — that support any credible allegation, saying it was “impossible to overlook” Racicot’s testimony.
Piker said people could have judged Platner’s character based on previous allegations about his past comments and behavior, referring to The New York Times article published in June that spoke with women Platner used to date
“But this is something beyond that … It’s irredeemable,” Piker added.
Politico reported earlier on Monday that Racicot accused Platner of forcing her to have sex with him while he was intoxicated in 2021.
Racicot recounted the 2021 incident to CNN’s Jake Tapper Monday night. She alleged that he was “heavily intoxicated” and that she pushed him away, knocking over belongings in her room. She said he “was aware that he was doing something wrong, yeah, saying, ‘Sorry.'”
She later said that she agrees with him politically and that she was “not mad at anyone who has voted for him all along,” and that “if he wasn’t who he was” she would vote for Platner as well.
“I understand that the state of our political environment is so much so that we need a lot of change, and he’s offering that change,” Racicot told Tapper.
Platner vehemently denied the allegations and emphasized the “inaccuracy of the reporting” by Politico while acknowledging that the latest scandal could threaten to impact his campaign.
He told supporters that he would take “the time to reflect on the best path forward” for Maine, the people he loves, his movement and “the goal of defeating” Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine).
Hours after Politico ran its story, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) and End Citizens United pulled their endorsements for Platner. Florida Senate candidate Alex Vindman (D) and Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) also called for Platner to drop from the race.
The Maine Democratic Party called on Platner to withdraw as the party nominee, adding that the party is “entrusted with deciding who represents our values and who carries our banner.”
“Over the past several weeks, multiple women have made serious, credible allegations against Graham Platner,” Maine Democratic Party leaders said in a statement. “Today’s statements take those allegations even further.”
Gee, Susan Collins will be happy to vote against the interests of the great state of Maine and it’s citizens for years more to come, I’m sure.
I had reservations about Platner ever since I learned about his stint as a Blackwater mercenary guarding Abu Ghraib prison, but most of the other allegations that had been made prior to this one were not disqualifying in my opinion. This one - without a doubt - is. I believe in redemption and restorative justice, but sexual assault is not something that can be forgiven just for an outward change of behavior. The damage done cannot be undone, and the mark left on one’s character for having committed such a heinous act is irreversible. Someone like that might - after a long and difficult journey of change - be accepted back into a community, but never again in a position of trust. Given the reliability of the allegation and Platner’s continued denial, it does not seem that he has even attempted that journey. He could start by withdrawing from the race, but unfortunately it may be too late to undo the damage he’s done to the progressive cause he selfishly championed in Maine, and if Susan Collins wins he will be to blame.
He stays in its hook line and sinker apparently moderate maga who will flip to dem love rapists /s
He fucked over a lot of people, so did his campaign if they knew. Thank the Flying Spaghetti Monster that DSA didn’t endorse.
Funny how all of a sudden the media thinks Piker is an important person whose views on politics people should listen to.
“Streamers” and “Influencers” are part of the cancer killing modern day society. They are not held to any standards resembling those applied to real journalism.
This bastard literally reread a bunch of accusations of one party and declared the issue closed. This will lead SEVERAL people to adopt the same opinion because they believe the first thing they hear and don’t care what is actually found beyond that point.
The repugs are fighting this race tooth and nail and have already pulled every accusation they can find out of the woodwork. They do not care if any of this is based in reality and the smear campaign has obviously had the desired effect to this point. How much of all this bullshit is factual?
Edit to add that the repugs are playing straight off the fact that the voters concerned hold their candidates to certain standards and can be convinced to abstain while mindless righties vote in lockstep.
Double edit: This guy is looking to actually be the shitbag he’s being portrayed to be.
Sex abuse allegations against Platner have existed for a long time, these are just the most damning. Further, we already knew he was an imperialist boot.
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I am not impressed by his analysis but yes he is an influential person otherwise no politicians would accept to get interviewed by him. You seem to have a deep hate for him for no reason
No, the user you replied to has a deep hate for the media who only treat Pikar as influential when he says something that helps the establishment.
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The double standards for Democrats are why they lose and the billionaires win.
“We should start voting for rapists like the Republicans do!”
If it was proven, which this isn’t. No witnesses, no police report…if not for the physical contact, then why not for breaking & entering? You’re all just assuming it’s true and black and white. Remember Al Franken? He was a good senator. Was there enough evidence to warrant him stepping down? Doesn’t seem like it now. Why the double standards?
“We should lower ourselves to the same level as Republicans!”
There can’t really be a double standard if conservatives don’t hold themselves to any standards.
Most rapes aren’t proven in a court of law.
I too remember ignoring Zohran Mamndanis rape allegations.
And all of the nazi tattoos he accidentally got.
The standard you’re willing to look the other way on is rape?
Where is the line for you?
Two wrongs don’t make a right, but I think if the president is allowed to use the justice department to hide the evidence implicating him in a global conspiracy to continuously rape underage girls on a private island, the Democrats should be allowed to run a candidate with a sexual assault allegation with a week before the withdrawal deadline.
EDIT: The line for me is putting more fascist Republicans in power by allowing them to remove Democratic candidates with a double standard for conduct.
Key word: allegation
I want proof.
You sound like all the delusional Browns fans defending the Deshaun Watson trade after the doeznth assault allegation came out
We all know you ain’t changing your opinion for shit - even if there were 4k footage of him commiting the act.
Trump was the best thing to ever happen to the Democrats because it allowed them to realize unlimited support from uncritical bluemaga types like yourself. So long as the opposition is “worse”, they’re happy to send literal sexual pest nazis onto the campaign trail.
I’m sure Russia is happy to hold Democrats to the double standard. I wouldn’t take the sincerity of anyone from lemmy.ml at face value when it comes to US senate races.
In the end, if Democrats lose candidates to mere allegations, and that puts more actual Republican rapists and fascists in power, the effect ends up being more rape and more fascism.
It’s a shrewd play accusing Platner in a swing state senate race a week before the withdrawal deadline.
“Evil foreigners are the reason people don’t want to support our rapist war criminal!”
We all know you you ain’t changing your opinion
Think what you want. I couldn’t care less, but if you’re calling me Blue MAGA, you should take a few seconds to look at my profile first. Cheers.
Okay, I’ll bite. If this woman releases 4k footage of said event, would you then withhold your support for Platner?
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You’ve got no proof of any of Trump’s allegations either.
Many predate his political rise, and yes there files and files of proof.
That’s just “allegations” though
Uhhh no. We have proof of several things and his current actions to have issues with. I mean we even have his own words of groping young women.
Can we not do whataboutisms?No, that’s just “allegations”, not proof.
Also, fucking hell do you people just mindlessly chant “whataboutism!” like trained parrots, it’s not even applicable here
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“But whatabout Russia!”
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Democrats absolutely are “allowed” to run rapist candidates; they’ve done it before. Just don’t expect us to not see you as the same kind of disgusting scum the Republicans are.
See “you” like who are you talking to here?
Remember, Trump has been convicted of rape charges. Platner has not. However, he will probably be forced to drop out anyways.
Lol. Just straight up lying now
I mean, yes… But it’s looking pretty damning.
Why exactly?
Because a billionaire and AIPAC-backed media outlet reported it?
One person alleged a crime without anything to back it up. The other denied it, and the source makes me question the validity even more until I see some proof.
You’re spreading misinformation. She does have evidence.
Thank you for your opinion and the discussion. I hope you have a pleasant day.
What does it do for you to lie about this? Why are you spreading misinformation here?
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Anyone with an ounce of self-awareness doesn’t need anyone to tell them the Nazi candidate isn’t a great candidate. Most of us are still running from ourselves, and that’s why any real progress is maddeningly slow.
Nazis don’t publicly disavow Nazism.
Real progress is maddeningly slow because when we get a candidate who is actually populist and committed to opposing the corruption of the wealthy, scandals get manufactured against them by both ruling parties, who are backed by the Epstein Class.
It happened to Bernie, AOC, Mamdani, and everyone else.
It is every bit as likely this person was paid to make an allegation by AIPAC, and I want some proof.
Nazis don’t publicly disavow Nazism.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Nazi’s are famously credible and quick to admit their crimes.
He should switch and run as Republican, get elected, then switch back to Democrat. Bam! Problem solved.
Politico is Zionist as fuck
And Piker is a Bernie level “leftist”.
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The significant allegations people are responding to were 5 years ago.
Ok updated.
Sex crimes are incredibly traumatizing for victims. Because of that, a lot of times those crimes don’t come to light until years down the road, once the victim has conquered that trauma enough to come forward. Even in the cases where a victim comes forward immediately, their cases rarely go anywhere because police departments infamously don’t do their due diligence when it comes to these reports and processing evidence.
Because sex crimes are so traumatizing, they’re one of the most heinous crimes a person can commit. I don’t want a politician who’s capable of committing heinous crimes. I don’t want a politician that tries to excuse, cover up, or wrongfully deny having committed heinous crimes. I understand no politicians are perfect. But there’s a ton of wiggle room between “not perfect” and “does heinous crimes”. It’s not a lot to ask for politicians to fall somewhere in the middle of that range.
Ok. Thats fair.
Someone else described it to me as “he is failing the job interview” and I mean sure. I dont want to really have someone who is a POS as a representative. But I also want to make sure we still can ask questions instead of having to jump to beliefs.
I also think that what they do after this is important since I agree that the idea of a repeat offender leaves less room for careless mistake and more a trend.
But I also want to make sure we still can ask questions instead of having to jump to beliefs.
What’s wrong with believing a victim who claims they was sexually assaulted? Especially in a case like this with receipts.
the idea of a repeat offender leaves less room for careless mistake and more a trend.
Right, and it’s looking like Platner is a repeat offender. Multiple people have come forward with accusations now, this one is just the latest.
Why do we punish people after sexually assaulting someone?
Oh geez, I don’t really know the answer to this buddy… I’m all for prison reform and all, but this kinda seems like an open goal
I got raped 3 times and my abusers didnt see a moment of consequence (edit: and I sure as fuck tried to make them) . I would LOVE if we punished sexual assaulters, but also this isnt that.
If police are involved and courts then that means legal repercussions. So are we trying to give social consequences here for the sake that its public and looks good to be against this? Cause in private I know people dont actually give a shit.
What are we doing here? Cause this isnt about legal justice or the conversations would be different.
Lmao, the way this could be interpreted as a right-winger whining about the Epstein files being a witch hunt.
Off topic and also we still have the very real current present reality of trump fucking up to hold him accountable for.
And agreed that its basically the same take though. So if there is no legal consequences what are we looking for here? If we want the victims to have justice we need to help them get it. What does all this vitriol serve to do? What are people looking for?
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I’ll believe it when I see some proof. An allegation is not proof, and we’ve seen allegations turn out false often enough that there’s a whole movement around the concept. It’s called the Innocence Project.
This is something like the 12th manufactured controversy against Platner, and it’s not a coincidence that he’s one of the few candidates who is publicly committed to being anti-war and anti-billionaire, and probably most importantly, anti-Zionist.
The Innocence Project is a national non-profit legal organization and public policy group founded in 1992 by Barry C. Scheck and Peter J. Neufeld. It is dedicated to exonerating wrongfully convicted individuals through DNA testing and reforming the criminal justice system to prevent future injustice
The innocence project is for all wrongly convicted individuals, not just for people wrongly accused of rape. That’s incredibly misleading of you to frame it that way.
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Incorrect.
It’s a testament to the fact that allegations should not be construed or treated as fact in and of themselves, regardless of the crime alleged.
It’s incredibly misleading of you to pretend I was saying otherwise.
You’re demanding proof of this rape multiple times here. We’re talking about a rape allegation. Context matters.
Well, let me clarify then.
Taking allegations as fact and expecting the accused to behave as if they are guilty is absurd. The Innocence Project is proof of that.
“Believe women except when it might impact my political candidate”
No. We don’t simply “believe” anyone. Simply “believing” someone did something is why the Innocence Project has to exist when it shouldn’t.
You take the report. You investigate. If there’s evidence something occurred you hold the offending party accountable. That’s it.
Indistinguishable from Trumpers at this point
I actually think there tends to be very few allegations that turn out false. You may be confusing it for allegations that have nothing done with them or allegations that get retracted, but very few turn out to actually be false. Even the retractions are usually done because the victims get harassed or further traumatized, and not because they turn out to be false.
