Sen. John Fetterman, Pennsylvania Democrat, cheered the collapse of Graham Platner’s Maine Senate bid Wednesday night, telling Fox News that “the trash took itself out tonight” in a pointed television rebuke of the left-wing candidate.
Mr. Platner, a Democrat who was challenging Sen. Susan Collins, Maine Republican, said Wednesday that he plans to withdraw from the race after a former girlfriend, Jenny Racicot, accused him of sexual assault in interviews with Politico and CNN describing a 2021 encounter. Mr. Platner has denied the accusation and has not been criminally charged.
Appearing on “Jesse Watters Primetime,” Mr. Fetterman said Mr. Platner would be remembered only as the accused rapist pushed out of his own election and told him to disappear back into obscurity. He said Mr. Platner had long been politically finished, using the phrase “dead man walking” to describe his standing before he announced his withdrawal plans.
The senator, who has repeatedly criticized Mr. Platner’s candidacy, also renewed his demand that Sen. Bernie Sanders, Vermont independent, and other left-wing figures who backed Mr. Platner apologize to Maine voters. In an earlier appearance on “The Ingraham Angle”, Mr. Fetterman said Mr. Platner had already been a dead man walking politically and argued that Democrats who dismissed earlier allegations against him owed an accounting to the women involved.
Mr. Fetterman was not alone in calling on Mr. Sanders to answer for his endorsement. Mr. Sanders said Tuesday he had recommended Mr. Platner step aside “in light of these very serious allegations,” according to Fox News’ reporting, after other prominent Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sens. Ruben Gallego and Elizabeth Warren, pulled their support in the allegation’s immediate aftermath.
Under Maine election law, party officials may name a new nominee if Mr. Platner formally withdraws by 5 p.m. Monday; a replacement must be named by July 27. Former state Sen. Troy Jackson, former acting Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Nirav Shah and former congressional candidate Jordan Wood have all signaled interest in the seat.
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