Rep. Valli Geiger (D-Rockland), a longtime advocate for sexual assault victims and staunch supporter of Graham Platner, says she won’t “throw Graham under the bus” and acknowledged “the pain on all sides” after Platner’s former girlfriend, Jenny Racicot, accused him of rape.
[RELATED: Democrats Must Contend With Platner’s Rape Allegations After Years of Pro “Me Too” Statements…]
“I will not throw Graham under the bus, but neither will I slander or accuse Ms. Racicot of anything more than telling the truth as she experienced it. I acknowledge the pain on all sides and offer compassion on all sides. Emotions are high, some are in deep pain, some have a sense of immense betrayal, some are livid, some are gleeful with “I told you so’s”. But there are no winners here, something profoundly hopeful has been lost,” said Rep. Geiger in a lengthy Facebook post.
Geiger has maintained her support for Platner despite the mountain of controversies facing him, previously claiming that he “did the hard work of healing” after his controversial past, and condemning any Democrats who planned not to vote for him due to his controversies.
Even as Geiger acknowledged that the rape allegation made against Platner was “credible,” her statement reads more like a sad eulogy to a beloved political candidate than a condemnation of sexual assault.
“I remember when Graham and I first started texting after being connected by a young environmental activist. I loved his message, his fierceness, his passion for economic populism, his deep breadth of knowledge on labor history, war history and how the US political system has failed us through out history,” she began her statement.
She then went on to claim that America is becoming like ancient Sparta, and expressed an ongoing belief that a former soldier who has served in combat, as Platner did, could temper the current administration’s hawkish tendencies.
“As a former VA nurse, I granted and still grant him an enormous amount of grace for his behavior in the “dark years” when he returned from multiple deployments. He acknowledges what a dark time it was, how lost he was, how much he was drinking,” she said.
Geiger didn’t even mention the rape allegation until the third paragraph of her post, when she called the allegation credible, but added that “none of us knows the truth, nor will we ever,” and reaffirmed her belief that Platner is becoming a better man.
“We have made the system deeply inhospitable to women who are assaulted whether by husbands, strangers, boyfriends or relatives. Her story seems credible. None of us knows the truth nor will we ever. I think Graham is a man becoming a better man and working hard on it. I think in a time of toxic masculinity, Graham offered a way back, a way to redemption and a possible model of male positivity. But, that does not mean he is not accountable for past actions that led to harm to others,” said Geiger.
She concluded her post by thanking Platner and his wife for the “exhilarating journey” they have taken her on and celebrating his “passion and eloquence.”
“I had hoped he would lead this movement. It looks like that is no longer possible. Instead, I will thank him for lighting a match to kindle a movement to remake America. Now it is our job to ensure that the movement continues to burn brighter, fiercer and to do nothing less than save our country,” Geiger concluded.
She even took to the comments section to defend Platner further when one commenter believed Platner’s supposed “healing” was inauthentic.
In another comment, Geiger expressed hope that the Maine Democratic Party chooses the most progressive possible candidate to replace Platner if he drops out of the race.
The commenters on Facebook largely appeared to support Geiger, including Rep. Deqa Dhalac (D-South Portland), who praised her “thoughtful words.”
“My dear friend Valli Geiger I have known you since 2009, and I truly cherish the time we shared especially being your seatmate in the House chamber. I have immense respect for you, and I deeply appreciate your wisdom, kindness, and thoughtful words. Onward,” said Rep. Dhalac.
Geiger’s extremely lenient position on the new rape allegation appears to be at odds with her past legislative advocacy for sex abuse victims through her push for a tracking system for rape forensic examination kits.
She even pushed for a bill to remove the word “alleged” from statutes discussing victims in relation to the rape testing kits.
She did not apply that same thinking to Platner’s alleged victim.
Geiger is a Moonbat ….is Dhalac still around ?
I’d have guessed she fled the country with a fist full of cash .
Two of Maine’s “ finest kind “ .
Maine has become INFESTED with Crazy People .
Looney lib!
Democommie libtards can’t keep their stories straight. Whatever happened to #me too# or the mandate to believe all women who claim to be rape victims???? These brainwashed, brain dead, Godless sheeples are pathetic and devoid of any moral compass.