Maine U.S. Senate Democratic nominee Graham Platner said Monday he is “taking the time to reflect on the best path forward” for his candidacy minutes after POLITICO reported that a woman who dated him said he forced her to have sex with him.

Platner denied the allegation, but he said in a roughly two-minute video posted to social media on Monday that he is “mindful of the political reality” the reporting “will inflict.”

“Regardless of the inaccuracy of the reporting, but mindful of the political reality it will inflict, we are taking the time to reflect on the best path forward,” Platner said.

It’s the first time that Platner — despite a series of scandals ranging from controversial online posts to earlier accusations about his behavior with women to a tattoo with Nazi ties — has indicated he was considering exiting the race.

His comments come after 41-year-old Maine resident Jenny Racicot told POLITICO that Platner entered her home uninvited five years ago and forced himself on her despite her repeatedly telling him to stop. She said she cut off contact with him after telling him that his actions that night were not consensual.

“I remember him grabbing my pelvis and being really forceful of me,” Racicot said. “I remember the specific moment where I thought to myself, like, ‘This is no longer my choice.’”

In his video, Platner called the allegation “troubling” and “serious” while denying it. He said his ultimate goal is defeating GOP Sen. Susan Collins in November.

“Every one of you deserves to see that vision come to fruition and see Susan Collins defeated,” Platner said, vowing to “use every tool at our disposal to do so.”

Democrats can still replace Platner on the ballot, but only if he chooses to drop out before the July 13 deadline outlined in Maine state law. If he were to drop out, the state Democratic Party would have to choose his replacement by July 27.

Many progressives, both elected officials and commentators, have stood behind Platner’s past scandals. But some said they found POLITICO’s report incredibly troubling for Platner in the immediate aftermath on Monday.

“That is curtains,” progressive commentator Hasan Piker said of Platner’s candidacy while reading the article to his Twitch audience. “I believe this allegation.”

Fellow progressive commentator Emma Vigeland called the allegation “immensely damaging” while arguing that Platner had not been fully truthful during past scandals.

“The Platner campaign insisted that nothing new was coming, and that was obviously not the truth. Just devastating,” she said on X.

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