Lyndsey Fifield, the first woman to publicly accuse Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner of abuse and violent behavior, has criticized The New York Times for its reporting on her claims. Fifield alleges that the newspaper's coverage played up her story and political views in a manner that could benefit the Platner campaign.
Fifield, who has accused Platner of actions including twisting her arm behind her back and locking her in a room against her will, stated in a social media post that Times reporters Katie Glueck and Lisa Lerer did not interview individuals best positioned to corroborate her account. She claimed the reporters declined to speak with five friends she provided contact information for, instead contacting only two who she stated could confirm their relationship timeline but not the specific instances of abuse.
"They called the two who I clarified would not know about the abuse but would be able to affirm our relationship timeline, events, etc. They simply did not call the other three," Fifield wrote. She also stated she provided the names of former roommates who could attest to Platner allegedly stalking their home, as well as names of other men she dated who might have witnessed him following her. Additionally, she provided emails to her landlord about ending her lease and diary entries detailing her concerns.
Fifield, a conservative who has previously worked on Republican campaigns, said she initially approached The Times because she believed her story would be perceived as more credible. However, she expressed dismay that the most widely shared aspect of the Times' report was its assertion that the paper "could not corroborate" her story, despite her providing corroborating contacts.
Her criticism comes as another Maine resident, Jenny Racicot, recently came forward with accusations of rape against Platner. Racicot, who shares Platner's left-wing political views, stated she had spoken to The Times off the record but decided to go public due to her reaction to the portrayal of Fifield's claims. Fifield suggested that she was initially told her contribution to the Times' reporting would be minimal and intended to support other accusers.
"Jenny and I — having never met or spoken — both shared with these reporters terrifyingly similar details of intimate partner violence, coercive control, and cycles of abuse/love bombing. The third unnamed woman in the story did as well," Fifield stated, questioning the Times' conclusion that her story could not be corroborated.```jsonw