Same character assassination perps, Gillibrand and Schumer. Aiming at a progressive.
As to a schlock inner party regulare, different story -
WASHINGTON (AP) — Kirsten Gillibrand was the first Democratic senator to call for her colleague Al Franken’s resignation in 2017 as he faced allegations of sexual misconduct, building a profile as a leading advocate for women that became the centerpiece of her 2020 presidential bid.
But the New York senator is taking a different approach when it comes to sexual harassment allegations hitting closer to home, those against her state’s Democratic governor, Andrew Cuomo.
In a series of statements, Gillibrand has said accusations of offensive behavior by Cuomo are “serious and deeply concerning” and that the three women “who have come forward have shown tremendous courage.” She has said that the claims against Cuomo are “completely unacceptable” and called for a full investigation — but stopped short of demanding his resignation.
Top Democrats in New York and nationally have similarly refrained from suggesting that Cuomo step down. That includes New York’s senior senator and the chamber’s majority leader, Democrat Chuck Schumer. It’s a far more cautious approach than the parade of Democratic senators who followed Gillibrand’s lead in calling for Franken’s resignation.
That’s fueling questions about whether, more than three years into the #MeToo movement, the push to hold powerful men accountable for sexual harassment and abuse is losing steam. Gillibrand paid a political price for her role in the Franken resignation and her tone toward Cuomo may reflect that.
“Our country needs to do better for women writ large,” said Rachel O’Leary Carmona, executive director of Women’s March, an advocacy group that grew out of the January 2017 demonstration when tens of thousands of women, most clad in pink, descended on Washington to protest Donald Trump’s presidency. “Both parties and at every level of government.”
Franken ultimately resigned, but Democrats later questioned whether they had moved too quickly to oust him. During her presidential campaign, Gillibrand faced questions about her decision and insisted she didn’t regret calling for Franken to give up his Senate seat. But she acknowledged that doing so hurt her with top donors and may have hampered her effort to win a following in the leadoff caucuses in Iowa, which borders Franken’s state of Minnesota.
Pete Buttigieg, who essentially tied for first place in Iowa, has said that when it came to Franken, he would “not have applied that pressure at that time before we knew more.” The former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, is now President Joe Biden’s transportation secretary.
Carmona’s group has gone a step farther than Gillibrand and other leading Democrats, calling for an investigation against Cuomo but also demanding his “immediate resignation,” noting that “conduct doesn’t have to be illegal to be disqualifying.”
Cuomo flatly rebuffed such calls Wednesday, [...]
Platner denial of allegations of nonconsensual sexual encounter -
Guardian -
Calls for Graham Platner, the Democratic candidate for US Senate in Maine, to withdraw his candidacy intensified Monday after a woman accused him of sexual assault in an exclusive report by Politico.
While Platner denied the claims, many top Democratic figures quickly called on the beleaguered nominee to step down.
In a joint statement, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee chair Kirsten Gillibrand said Platner should “immediately withdraw”.
“The allegations reported today are incredibly disturbing – violence, abuse and sexual assault are absolutely unacceptable,” they said. “The DSCC will not invest in the Maine Senate race if Platner remains on the ballot.”
Maine’s Democratic party leadership said Platner should withdraw from the race, while Ro Khanna, the California representative who has been one of Platner’s most vocal supporters, also said he should drop out. “I’ve been very clear that sexual assault or violence against women is a red line,” he wrote on X. “These allegations are very serious and credible. Graham Platner should drop out from the race. I am withdrawing my endorsement.”
Elizabeth Warren, the Massachusetts senator who endorsed Platner in March, said in a statement “there can be no tolerance for sexual assault”. She said: “With so much at stake, the best path forward is for Graham Platner to step aside as the Democratic nominee and address these serious allegations outside this Senate race.”
Ruben Gallego, a Democratic senator from Arizona, also said on X: “The allegations against Graham Platner are troubling and deeply serious. I am rescinding my endorsement.” Martin Heinrich, a Democratic senator from New Mexico who had also supported Platner in the primary, said he could “no longer support” his candidacy. “He should step aside,” Heinrich said in a statement.
In the Politico report, published on Monday, Jenny Racicot, 41, who previously dated Platner, said he forced her to have sex despite repeated objections.
Platner denied the claims in a statement to Politico.
“These allegations are troubling, serious, and false. Any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically untrue,” he said.
Racicot told the outlet she had an on-and-off relationship with Platner for more than two years. She alleges that in late 2021, an intoxicated Platner entered her home uninvited and forced himself on her. Racicot said she terminated contact after the encounter.
The report cited accounts from a man Racicot later confided in, as well as recent therapist emails, and messages where she warned an acquaintance about Platner in 2023.
Platner, an oyster farmer and former marine veteran, who secured the Democratic nomination and faces the Republican senator Susan Collins in the general election, has faced a series of scandals before this week.
Platner has cast himself as a populist everyman with an anti-oligarchy message. Before his run for public office, he made controversial comments on social media and got a Nazi-linked tattoo, which has since been covered up. Platner has said he did not initially understand the meaning of the tattoo.
In a video message on Monday published after the Politico report, Platner again said the accusations were false, but that he was mindful of the political reality the accusation will carry.
“We are taking the time to reflect on the best path forward for the state that I love, the people that I love, the movement I belong to and the goal of defeating Susan Collins,” Platner said.
He thanked the voters who helped propel him to the nomination as a political newcomer.
“You never turned your back on me, and I will not turn my back on you now,” he said. “Every one of you deserves to see that vision come to fruition, and see Susan Collins defeated, and we will use every tool at our disposal to do so. As Maine goes, so goes the nation.”
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This is Gillibrand and Schumer dumping the same shit they dumped on Franken, who was the Senator I voted for and wanted in Washington to represent my State's interests, and to show the progressinve wisdom that caused me to so vote.
Cuomo, the pair, Gillibrand and Schumer, took a hike. He was a stiff they fit in with.
Franken and now Platner, they eviscerate. Are they sincere? Who the fuck knows but the Cuomo quietness suggests they are grossly inconsistent. They only judge progressives harshly.
Bottem line: Fuck the both of them. As Crabgrass sees things, Platner should stay in his bid to be a progressive voice in a Senate lacking progressive voices, but full of far too many Scuhmer/Gilllibrand bullshit clones.
With a Schumer/Gillibrand Senate we've gone decades without decent healthcare for Americans. With Platner that goal would be closer. We've got Senators and Reps trading stock while privy to insider information. Status quo. Real CHANGE and HOPE are not out of reach, but will take effort to achieve.
What does Bernie say?
____________________UPDATE___________________
While the rats abandon ship, again, Bernie also, or not? That is a BIG question.
But to update, burred at the very end of the Guardian item -
Platner’s campaign said the senatorial candidate “vigorously denies” the claims.
“These allegations are very serious and Graham vigorously denies them,” the statement said. “They are also coached and coordinated by out of state establishment operatives. For a year, opponents of this campaign have thrown everything they can at Graham – calling him a Nazi, a war criminal, and a communist. None of it has been true and this is no different.
“It is not a coincidence that this story comes a week before the ballot deadline, just as the previous false allegations came a week before the primary. Graham began this campaign to fight for a Maine where everyone is treated with dignity and where Mainers are put first, and no amount of desperate smears will stop this movement from seeing that vision through.”
That is a strong statement of continuation. Crabgrass views it as proper, and hopes that it holds. This kind of last minute corruptly timed attack should not win. People see it, and it most surely is a weight against others deciding, like Platner, to run.
____________FURTHER UPDATE____________
Not Me Too, but Them two.
FURTHER: Beyond Gillibrand and Schumer possibly getting ahead of their story and outrunning actual evidence, the Politico account that launched the endorsement withdrawal landslide is:
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/06/graham-platner-sexual-assault-allegation-00987737
The story is she was on a couch, Platner entered, groped, they went to the bedroom and had unprotected sex, the claims of consensual or not vary, she got cleaned up while Platner fell asleep. She did not awaken him, discussing things the next morning, and that being the last sex between them. No police report. No claims of apparent forced bodily injury, bruises or scratches. She scrubbed roughly contemporaneous web traces. After that, vague hearsay. She sought out Cheyenne Hunt who'd previously in April 2026 managed claimants against Eric Swalwell, and only after that she came out agressively against Platner, timed as it was. There is ambiguity. Whether Hunt has other claimants against Platner. It is unclear, but none have come forward with detail, and the expectation is Politico and Hunt had discussions before Politico published.That a Politico show-us-more request to Hunt did not get more shown.
That's not how Politico worded it, but this timing is suspect, and who jilted who is unclear after an extended relationship. Just that there was this ending encounter with consent disputed. I believe Platner's claim things were consensual. Others believe otherwise, apparently. Or are willing to throw Platner overboard after Politico published as it did, however they believe things.
To scuttle an otherwise popular progressive likelihood of unseating Susan Collins in a progressive campaign that resonated greatly with Dem primary voters in Maine, on this, seems too thin, to me. With Franken there was the clowning around photo that was in truth, poor humor. But something tangible. Platner and spouse show the public a solid marriage, with nothing to suggest doubt about it. It is their candicacy, not merely his. They both embrace the chance to unseat Collins and go to DC to make the nation better. In their view of what better would be. A view I share.