New York Times Accused of Journalistic Malfeasance in Platner Abuse Reporting
"I gave them the contact information for 5 friends. They called the 2 who I clarified would not know about the abuse but would be able to affirm our relationship timeline. They simply did not call the other 3. I gave them screenshots of messages between these roommates and I discussing it. I gave them the names of other men I dated who remembered him following us around. But tell me again how they could not corroborate."
About this episode
Host Ben Shapiro dissects the implosion of Graham Platner's Democratic Senate campaign in Maine following new rape allegations reported by Politico. Jenny Raskott, 41, accused the Democratic nominee of forcing himself on her in late 2021 after entering her home uninvited while intoxicated. Raskott told Politico she repeatedly objected but felt the encounter became non-consensual, and she later cut off contact with Platner. Significantly, Raskott stated she initially withheld her story because she agreed with Platner's progressive politics and feared undermining his challenge to Republican incumbent Susan Collins. Shapiro argues that Democratic leadership abandoned Platner not due to moral principle but because a Fox News poll showed him losing to Collins by three points, threatening Democratic hopes of retaking the Senate. The episode reveals that Democratic leaders had previously embraced Platner despite his Nazi tattoo, bizarre sexual statements online, and earlier allegations of abusive behavior from another woman, Lindsay Fifield. Shapiro highlights what he characterizes as journalistic malfeasance by the New York Times, which according to Fifield ignored multiple corroborating witnesses and evidence she provided about Platner's alleged abuse, instead describing the relationships as merely 'unsettling and emotionally wrenching.' High-profile Democrats including Ro Khanna withdrew endorsements following the Politico report. Platner denied all allegations but stated he was reflecting on the best path forward and suggested he would only withdraw if replaced by a candidate aligned with his political vision. The episode concludes with Shapiro mocking conspiracy theories from Marjorie Taylor Greene and Cenk Uygur who blamed AIPAC and pro-Israel forces for the allegations, calling such claims absurd.
Key takeaways
- Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner faces rape allegations from Jenny Raskott, who says he forced himself on her in 2021 despite her repeated objections and entering her home uninvited while intoxicated.
- Raskott stated she initially withheld allegations specifically because she agreed with Platner's progressive politics and feared undermining his Senate campaign against Susan Collins.
- Democratic leaders withdrew endorsements after a Fox News poll showed Platner losing to Collins, threatening party hopes of retaking the Senate majority.
- Lindsay Fifield alleges the New York Times ignored five corroborating witnesses, roommate testimonies, landlord emails and diary entries documenting Platner's alleged abuse against her.
- Democrats had previously embraced Platner despite his Nazi tattoo, bizarre sexual posts online, and earlier domestic abuse allegations that mainstream media downplayed or ignored.
- Platner denies all allegations but says he will only withdraw if replaced by a candidate who shares his political vision and policy agenda.
- Marjorie Taylor Greene and Cenk Uygur promoted conspiracy theories blaming AIPAC and pro-Israel groups for orchestrating the rape allegations against Platner.