MS NOW’s Mika Brzezinski appeared to forged doubt on a bombshell allegation of rape in opposition to Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner, repeatedly urgent one of many journos who broke the story for “concrete proof.”
She grilled Politico reporter Adam Wren over his report wherein Platner’s ex-girlfriend Jenny Racicot accused the candidate of breaking into her dwelling and raping her virtually 5 years in the past — immediately triggering calls from distinguished Dems for Platner to exit the Maine race. He denied the allegations, however mentioned he was “taking time” to mirror on his candidacy.
“My query to you, given the very excessive requirements Politico has earlier than they write one thing like this and publish it – what points of this story introduced it to the extent of publishable?” Brzezinski requested Tuesday morning, noting there was no police report or authorized submitting concerning the rape allegation.
Wren replied that he and his colleague Jessica Piper reviewed e-mail exchanges between Racicot and her therapist, in whom she confided “in virtually real-time;” talked to individuals who Racicot spoke to after the alleged rape; and spent a whole lot of time speaking to Racicot throughout a number of interviews.
“We requested her why she didn’t file a police report and she or he described type of the insular nature of the place she lives in her nook of Maine that she shares with Graham Platner and she or he, you understand, debated type of tips on how to deal with this, and we discovered finally the variety of corroborating items of proof to assist her story in a approach that we might report it,” Wren added.
Brzezinski pressed: “So, what are a few of these corroborating items of proof? … Any conversations with Graham Platner on the time … do you’ve gotten that? What do you’ve gotten that truly connects this actually? Graham Platner to raping this sufferer?”
“Yeah, she reached out to him the day after by way of Instagram and basically informed him that, you understand, she didn’t need to hear from him once more,” Wren mentioned.
Brzezinski jumped in: “However you had been in a position to see these DMs [Direct Messages]?”
“She, uh, tried to get better these DMs. We weren’t in a position to evaluation these DMs however she described them to us. We additionally – lengthy earlier than he was a politician – we noticed her basically clarify to others that he was in her phrases ‘consensually careless,’” Wren mentioned.
However Brzezinski pressed once more: “Proper, however had been you in a position to see the interactions between Graham Platner and this alleged sufferer? Did you really bodily see them? Did she produce them for you?”
“She tried to uncover them, however was unable to,” Wren mentioned.
MS NOW co-anchor Willie Geist then questioned Wren concerning the timing of the story, noting that it was printed precisely one week from the deadline when Platner must drop out of the race to ensure that Dems to pick out a brand new candidate to take his place.
Wren mentioned Racicot “wished Maine voters to type of have the total story right here.”
Right here’s the newest on the bombshell intercourse allegations in opposition to lefty Senate candidate Graham Platner:
On the finish of the interview, Brzezinski once more leaned into Wren for extra concrete proof that helped Politico publish the story.
“So Adam, in closing, clearly it is a enormous political bombshell story, a narrative that may – in all probability will – result in the tip of Graham Platner’s marketing campaign, and I’m going again to the choice to publish, and I’m curious what concrete proof … took this story past Graham Platner saying this was consensual, Jenny Racicot saying this was not consensual?” Brzezinski requested.
“What took it over the sting and had you and your editors determine to publish, after all, sort of an earthquake in Democratic politics? What was the piece of proof or items of proof that made you certain of this?” she added.
Wren repeated that Racicot had confided in a number of individuals concerning the alleged rape lengthy earlier than Platner was a politician and shared screenshots of messages and emails with the reporters.
Brzezinski minimize him off, saying, “Proper, effectively these are the issues I mentioned. What’s the precise – is there proof between her and him, proof of a criminal offense? As a result of he’s being accused of rape. What put this over the sting? As a result of he says he didn’t and he has individuals on his facet who say he didn’t. She says I did and I’m making an attempt – what’s the throughline?”
Wren repeated that he and his colleague interviewed Racicot a number of instances and spoke to individuals she had confided in quickly after the alleged incident, saying: “Politico stands by our reporting.”
Platner is going through a July 13 deadline to drop out of the race to present Dems time to appoint a alternative to face GOP Sen. Susan Collins on the poll in November – in a key state for management of the Senate.
Because the report was printed, Platner has cleared his marketing campaign schedule and is reportedly contemplating subsequent steps – whereas Dems like New York Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand shortly took again their endorsements and urged him to exit the race.
