Amy Gertner, wife of recently suspended Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, was seen departing her Sullivan, Maine, home with beach gear on Thursday, one day after her husband announced he was halting his campaign.
Gertner was observed leaving her residence carrying a yellow beach towel and a large water bottle, accompanied by an unidentified man who was placing a stand-up paddle board into a separate vehicle. Platner did not appear to be with them. Gertner has been married to Platner since November 2023.
Platner, a Democratic candidate, announced his withdrawal from the Senate race on Wednesday via an 11-minute video. His decision followed accusations of rape made by a former girlfriend, Jenny Racicot, who alleged the incident occurred in 2021. Platner's campaign had previously been affected by reports of him exchanging sexual messages with multiple women on the Kik app.
In his withdrawal announcement, Platner attributed his decision to external pressures, mentioning "large forces," "corporate media," and the "political establishment." He stated that the timing of the allegations was intended to remove him from the ballot and urged against viewing his withdrawal as an admission of guilt, attributing it instead to "structures that are being taken away from us by those in power."
Social media users widely criticized Platner's lengthy explanation as arrogant and delusional. Previously, in mid-June, Gertner had publicly supported her husband after reports surfaced about his Kik activity. At that time, she expressed anger and disappointment with media outlets, stating they were spreading gossip instead of focusing on Platner's campaign issues like healthcare and education. She also mentioned that she found news articles about their marriage to be particularly upsetting.
Federal Election Commission disclosures indicated that Gertner received nearly $30,000 from the Graham for Maine campaign during her husband's Senate run.