Lyndsey Fifield, a woman who accused Democratic Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner of sexual assault, has spoken out against The New York Times for their handling of her story. Fifield claims that the Times ‘tainted’ her story by focusing on her conservative politics and downplaying her allegations.

Allegations Against Platner

Fifield initially told the Times about Platner’s alleged abuse, including an incident where he removed his condom without her consent, known as stealthing. However, the Times’ published report did not include this detail, instead focusing on Fifield’s work history and conservative affiliations.

Fifield has since spoken out about the experience, stating that she felt ‘gaslighted’ and ‘betrayed’ by the Times. She claims that the reporters made her feel guilty for not coming forward sooner and implied that her story would not be taken seriously due to her conservative views.

Response from The New York Times

A spokesperson for The New York Times has defended the paper’s reporting, stating that the June 4 article was a ‘powerful and original piece of journalism’ that presented ‘deeply personal accounts and many new facts’. However, Fifield and other critics have accused the Times of using ‘catch and kill’ tactics to shield Platner from allegations of sexual misconduct.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.