Former Girlfriend Accuses Maine Senate Candidate Platner of Removing Condoms Without Consent

Lyndsey Fifield, a former girlfriend of Democratic Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, came forward Tuesday with allegations that he repeatedly removed condoms during sex without her consent. The accusations add another layer to mounting controversies surrounding Platner’s campaign, which already faces intense pressure following separate sexual assault allegations reported Monday.

Fifield, who dated Platner from 2013 to 2015, told The Washington Post that she explicitly instructed Platner to wear protection during intercourse because she was not on birth control. Despite her clear instructions, she alleges he would remove the contraceptive without her knowledge or permission.

“He would pull condoms off,” Fifield told the Post. “He would do it in a sneaky way. He wouldn’t tell me.”

She described approximately six incidents of alleged condom removal during their two-year on-and-off relationship. When she confronted Platner about the behavior-both during and after sexual encounters-Fifield claims he failed to take her concerns seriously.

Maine Law Criminalizes Stealthing Practice

Maine law specifically criminalizes the practice of “stealthing,” which involves removing a condom after consensual partners agree to its use, under legislation enacted in 2023. The law provides victims of stealthing with a legal pathway to sue their perpetrators in civil court, recognizing the act as a violation of sexual consent.

Fifield told The Washington Post that Platner’s response to her confrontations minimized the severity of his actions. He would act dismissively, treating the violation as something inconsequential rather than acknowledging the danger he placed her in without birth control protection.

“I confronted him both during and after [sex] because he knew that I was not on birth control and how dangerous that was,” she told the Washington Post in one interview. “He would act like cute about it, like ‘Oh sneaky me,'” she said in another interview with the outlet.

Fifield previously came forward with accusations of physical abuse in an earlier interview with the outlet but mentioned the alleged condom removal off the record. She chose to publicly disclose these specific allegations now to show support for Jenny Racicot, another woman who recently accused Platner of sexual assault.

Earlier Sexual Assault Allegations Surface

The latest accusations follow bombshell allegations reported Monday by Politico. Jenny Racicot, 41, told the publication that Platner drunkenly entered her home uninvited and sexually assaulted her. Those allegations prompted immediate political fallout, with Democratic Party officials and major organizations rescinding their endorsements of his campaign.

During a CNN interview that aired Tuesday on “The Lead,” host Jake Tapper asked Fifield directly about the condom removal allegations, referencing Racicot’s account. Tapper noted that Racicot also discussed unprotected sex as something she didn’t want to happen that Platner made happen.

“Yeah,” Fifield responded. “So, that was something that was really, I think, the worst and most violating part.”

The Hill has not independently verified Fifield’s claims. Platner’s campaign issued a statement calling the latest allegation “categorically false and politically motivated,” pointing to Fifield’s role as “co-founder of Ladies for Kavanaugh,” a reference to Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who has also faced sexual assault accusations.

Campaign Faces Mounting Political Crisis

Platner has consistently denied all allegations brought forward by both women. He maintains that “any accusation of nonconsensual behavior is categorically false.” When Fifield previously came forward with allegations of abuse, Platner acknowledged being “far from a perfect boyfriend” and pointed to his struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Following Racicot’s allegations, Platner shared a video on social media stating he would take time to “reflect” and find the “best path forward” for his campaign. However, he has not withdrawn from the race despite widespread calls from Democratic leaders for him to step aside.

Democratic Party officials and organizations have taken swift action against Platner following the allegations. Multiple endorsements have been rescinded, and party leadership has publicly urged him to exit the race. The successive allegations have created a political crisis for Platner’s campaign. This crisis comes just days before Maine’s ballot deadline.

Democrats Face Urgent Timeline Challenges

The timing of the allegations poses urgent challenges for Democrats. They have a narrow window to potentially replace Platner on the ballot if he chooses to withdraw or is removed from the race. A separate report indicated that Platner’s campaign has sought to influence possible replacement candidates, adding another controversial dimension to the unfolding situation.

Democrats seek to maintain or expand their Senate majority through this race. Susan Collins, a Republican who has held her Senate seat for multiple terms, represents a key target for Democrats in their efforts to control the chamber. The allegations against Platner have complicated those strategic objectives significantly.

Fifield’s decision to come forward publicly reflects a broader pattern of women supporting one another when sharing allegations of sexual misconduct. She explicitly stated that her motivation for disclosing the alleged stealthing incidents was to demonstrate to Racicot that she is not alone in her experiences with Platner.

The oyster farmer turned Senate candidate now faces multiple serious allegations from different women spanning different time periods. As the political fallout continues, questions remain about whether Platner will ultimately withdraw from the race and how Democrats will navigate the challenging timeline ahead of the ballot deadline.