TAPPING OUT: Maine Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner exited the race Wednesday, days after most prominent Democrats abandoned his campaign over allegations of sexual assault against him.
Platner maintained his innocence in a lengthy video statement posted online addressed to his supporters, alleging the accusations were being publicized to force him out of the race ahead of a Monday deadline. But he acknowledged that his candidacy would struggle to have any path forward.
“We believe that for the movement to continue it can’t be me, and for that reason, we are suspending campaign operations,” Platner told supporters. “This is incredibly difficult, because I know that some will think it’s an admission of guilt, and it most certainly is not.”
His decision will kick off an abbreviated process for the Maine Democratic Party to name his replacement. Under state law, the party can choose another candidate as long as Platner formally withdraws by Monday.
The party will have until July 27, just more than two weeks, to name a new nominee. Preparations have already started taking place, as the state party said it plans to hold a nominating convention.
Several prominent potential contenders have already either thrown their hats in the ring or expressed interest in seeking the nomination, including former state Senate President Troy Jackson, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and former Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention Director Nirav Shah.
All three received statewide attention with unsuccessful bids for governor this year, but the field to replace Platner may end up much larger.
Platner’s withdrawal ended a whirlwind 48 hours for the candidate, following a Politico report in which a woman he formerly dated accused him of raping her. His candidacy survived many controversies over several months, including revelations of now-deleted Reddit posts and a now-covered chest tattoo resembling a Nazi sign, but the backlash to the most recent allegation proved too much for Platner to overcome.
Within a day of the report’s release, almost every major Democratic figure had pulled their endorsement of him and urged him to drop out of the race against Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), seen as a top pick-up opportunity.
Platner has called for a replacement who will pick up the mantle of his progressive movement, noting he received an overwhelming majority of votes in the Democratic primary last month.
That decision will lie with the party’s delegates.
▪ The Hill: Democratic infighting roils process to replace Platner.
▪ The Hill: Actor Patrick Dempsey turns down possible Senate bid.
GIVETH AND TAKETH AWAY: Trump has returned from an eventful NATO summit after making commitments on two out of three foreign policy issues that observers were watching closely.
The president announced he would allow Ukraine to co-produce air-defense Patriot missiles following a strong lobbying push from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and NATO allies.
The announcement could be critical for Ukraine’s defenses against Russia, though it could take years to get production whirring. More than two dozen people in Ukraine were killed in the past few days in the latest strikes from Russia.
Trump also said he would remove Syria from the state sponsor of terrorism list, which has been one of the last remaining hurdles for the country to rejoin the international community. The move came after lobbying from a bipartisan trio of lawmakers earlier this month.
Trump has enjoyed warm relations with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa over the past year and a half, in the aftermath of al-Sharaa coming to power after overthrowing former Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. The announcement came as Trump met with al-Sharaa at the summit.
One area where Trump stopped short of committing is on whether to approve Turkey’s push to obtain access to F-35 fighter jets. He signaled on Tuesday that he was willing to lift sanctions against Turkey that has prevented it from rejoining the fighter jet program but stopped short of pledging jets to the country.
“I haven’t totally made up my mind, but my inclination is to say, look, he’s done everything, he’s helped us in so many different ways,” Trump said of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
At the same time, Trump raised eyebrows with his declaration that the U.S. would cut off all trade with Spain over tensions on its defense spending and the Iran war.
“Spain is a terrible partner in NATO. They don’t participate. They don’t pay,” the president continued. “I don’t want anything to do with Spain. Cut off all trade with Spain, please, including visits.”
▪ The Hill: Five takeaways from the NATO summit.
▪ The Hill: Trump sets up fight in Congress over Turkey sanctions.
CHECKING IN: Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) sent a letter Wednesday to Sen. Mitch McConnell’s (R-Ky.) office requesting an update on the senator’s health weeks after he was hospitalized.
Senate GOP leaders said they spoke with McConnell in the past few days by phone and expect him to return to the Senate, but that hasn’t quelled speculation about his condition. McConnell’s office hasn’t provided information about what caused his hospitalization last month or his current status other than to say he’s improving.
“Allowing speculation to continue in the media is not fair to the Senator or to Kentuckians, and my hope is that this provides him the opportunity to share the information in a transparent manner, direct from the source,” Beshear wrote in his letter. “I wish him a safe and speedy recovery.”
McConnell, who is 84 years old and is retiring from the Senate after his term ends in January, has had several health issues in recent years, including falls and freezing episodes.
▪ The Hill: Absences revive debate about lawmaker transparency.
PAY UP: A federal judge has ordered the release of $5.8 million to be paid to E. Jean Carroll from an escrow account created as Trump appealed a verdict finding he defamed her.
U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan ruled Wednesday that Carroll should receive the funds three years after a jury awarded her for damages by Trump. The ruling denies a last-minute appeal from Trump’s attorneys to pause the payment.
The case stems from Trump’s comments during his first term that Carroll’s accusations that he sexually assaulted her were a “con job” and a “hoax.” A jury determined the statements defamed Carroll and caused her professional harm.
The Supreme Court declined to hear Trump’s appeal to overturn the ruling without explanation last week.
▪ The Hill: Defense lawyers dispute DNA evidence in Charlie Kirk case.
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