A former girlfriend of Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner who had beforehand accused him of violence informed NCS she was heartened that he was dealing with broad calls to drop out of the race after one other lady accused him of rape.
Lyndsey Fifield described her personal alleged mistreatment by Platner for the primary time on digicam to NCS on Tuesday, saying that he repeatedly grabbed her, at occasions leaving bruises, and as soon as blocked her inside a bed room whereas they have been relationship greater than a decade in the past.
Her interview got here a day after Jenny Racicot, who casually dated Platner for 2 years, accused him of coming into her residence with out permission and raping her whereas he was closely intoxicated. Her account in interviews with Politico and NCS, which Platner denied, led to a refrain of Democratic officers calling on Platner to finish his marketing campaign.
Fifield mentioned she was impressed by Racicot’s bravery coming ahead and felt “relief” that endorsers like Sen. Bernie Sanders urged Platner to drop out of the race. At the identical time, she mentioned, she was disturbed that her personal allegations about Platner’s habits, which have been published by the New York Times final month, didn’t spark related condemnation from Platner’s supporters.
“As much as I’m grateful and I’m glad and I hope that finally this was enough,” Fifield mentioned, she additionally described feeling “pain” that “my accusations weren’t enough.”
In an announcement, Platner’s marketing campaign known as Fifield’s allegations “categorically false” and mentioned they arrive “from a person with a well-documented political agenda.”
Speaking to the Times final month, Platner mentioned he “too often self medicated with alcohol, and was a far from perfect boyfriend” throughout what he described as a “very dark period of my life.”
“I take responsibility for all of that, and wish I had been better,” he added on the time. “Any characterization beyond that is false, and I believe, politically motivated. I’m not proud of who I was then, but I am proud of the work I’ve done since, and the movement we are building in Maine.”
Fifield met Platner in 2013 when Platner was a pupil at George Washington University and he or she was working in D.C., they usually dated on and off in 2013 and 2014, she mentioned. In the interview with NCS, she described Platner as combating severe alcohol issues and being violent towards her.
Fifield mentioned Platner often grabbed her, generally laborious sufficient to depart marks, whereas they have been relationship. One time throughout an argument, she mentioned, Platner grabbed her arm, shoved her right into a bed room, and held the door closed so she couldn’t go away.
At occasions once they have been having intercourse, Fifield mentioned, Platner would take away the condom he was sporting with out telling her, and when she confronted him about it, he would make up excuses or deflect. “The worst and most violating part was how often he would do that secretly,” she mentioned. The Washington Post first reported her allegation.
Emily Zanotti, a good friend of Fifield’s, informed NCS that Fifield mentioned years in the past that she had been making an attempt to keep away from being pregnant whereas she was relationship Platner, however that Platner would take away condoms throughout intercourse.
“I knew that Graham had been a really destructive force in her life,” Zanotti mentioned.
In an announcement to the Post concerning the allegation, Platner’s marketing campaign known as it false and politically motivated.
Fifield mentioned Platner at occasions scared her along with his habits towards her when he was drunk. She mentioned he was “very physically rough,” though she famous that Platner “never hit me, never slapped me.”
Platner’s marketing campaign informed the Times final month that he “strongly disputes” any claims of bodily intimidation or altercations, and this week, his marketing campaign mentioned he “vigorously denies” Racicot’s allegation of rape. Platner mentioned in a video posted on X that “any accusation of nonconsensual behavior is categorically false,” however that he would “reflect on the best path forward” within the Senate race.
Fifield has a historical past of engaged on Republican campaigns and for conservative teams, together with the Heritage Foundation and Nikki Haley’s 2024 presidential marketing campaign. After the Times story was revealed, some Platner supporters pointed to Fifield’s political historical past when defending him towards her claims.
Fifield mentioned she confronted on-line assaults that led to her feeling “in a very dark place.”
“It felt very violating and it felt very dismissive,” Fifield mentioned. “It was like they minimized what were clearly very painful, I mean, probably the most painful memories of my life.”
Fifield informed NCS that she hadn’t shared her story about Platner for any political motive.
“I wanted to tell the truth because it felt like watching him lie was just so difficult for me,” she mentioned. “I don’t care about the Maine Senate race, that’s not on my radar – I’m going to Pilates with my kids.”
Like Racicot, she mentioned she had linked with the progressive activist and lawyer Cheyenne Hunt, who inspired her to share her story on the file with NCS.
Fifield mentioned she was involved by the concept the person she had seen behind closed doorways may attain a place of energy.
“You can’t be that way in private and not have it translate into how you would govern or how you would legislate,” she mentioned. “It terrifies me to think of him having any type of power politically, because what is he going to do with the women in his office?”