2026年7月7日 东部夏令时12:45 / 《华盛顿邮报》
佛蒙特州参议员是缅因州这位民主党黑马候选人的重要支持者。
and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner in May in Orono, Maine. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images))
作者：阿列克谢·科斯夫
佛蒙特州独立党参议员伯尼·桑德斯是格雷厄姆·普拉特纳在缅因州参议院竞选的重要支持者，他于周二表示，普拉特纳应在面临性侵犯指控后退出竞选。
“我已与格雷厄姆·普拉特纳谈过缅因州州务的最佳前进方向，”桑德斯在一份声明中说。“鉴于这些非常严重的指控，我建议他退出竞选。”
周一，一名曾与普拉特纳交往过的女性向Politico、CNN和《华盛顿邮报》爆料称，普拉特纳于2021年末未经邀请闯入她的住所，并在醉酒状态下对她实施性侵。此后，民主党人开始撤回对普拉特纳的背书。
但桑德斯作为普拉特纳挑战连任五届的缅因州共和党参议员苏珊·柯林斯运动中最直言不讳的支持者之一，近一天来一直保持沉默，对有关这品性侵犯指控的问询不予回应。
普拉特纳尚未透露是否计划退出竞选。他需在周一前将自己的名字从选票上移除，以便州民主党挑选替代候选人。
Bernie Sanders calls on Graham Platner to drop Senate bid
July 7, 2026 at 12:45 p.m. EDT / The Washington Post
The senator from Vermont has been a key backer of the insurgent Democratic candidate in Maine.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner in May in Orono, Maine. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
By Alexei Koseff
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), a key backer of Graham Platner’s insurgent Senate campaign in Maine, said Tuesday that Platner should step aside following an accusation of sexual assault.
“I have spoken with Graham Platner about the best path forward for Maine,” Sanders said in a statement. “In light of these very serious allegations, I have recommended that he step aside.”
Democrats began withdrawing their endorsements of Platner on Monday, after a woman who used to date Platner told Politico, CNN and The Washington Post that he entered her home uninvited in late 2021 and forced himself on her while he was intoxicated.
But Sanders, who has been one of Platner’s most vocal supporters in his challenge against five-term Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), remained silent for nearly a day, ignoring inquiries about the sexual assault claim.
Platner has not yet said whether he plans to drop out of the race. He has until Monday to remove his name from the ballot and allow the state Democratic Party to choose a replacement.
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