WASHINGTON — The first woman to publicly accuse Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner of abuse has sharply criticized The New York Times for its coverage of her allegations, accusing the newspaper of selectively reporting to benefit Platner’s campaign.

Lyndsey Fifield, who alleges that Platner physically assaulted her by twisting her arm behind her back and locking her in a room, as well as forcibly removing her from a taxi on a separate occasion, took to the social media platform X on Tuesday to challenge how reporters handled her account. She accused Times journalists Katie Glueck and Lisa Lerer of failing to contact key individuals who could substantiate her claims.

Fifield stated that she provided the reporters with contact information for five friends who could confirm aspects of her timeline and experiences. However, she said the reporters only spoke to two friends, whom she acknowledged would not have direct knowledge of the abuse but could verify their relationship history. The remaining three friends, she said, were not contacted.

“These omissions led to the impression that my story could not be corroborated,” Fifield wrote on X. She added that she understood why some Democratic leaders initially dismissed the allegations when first reported in June but have since taken them more seriously.

Platner has denied all accusations, labeling Fifield’s claims as politically motivated and false. The controversy escalated when, on Monday, another Maine resident, Jenny Racicot, publicly accused Platner of rape. Unlike Fifield, Racicot shares many of Platner’s progressive political views, adding complexity to the allegations.

Fifield emphasized that she and Racicot, who have not met or communicated, independently reported strikingly similar experiences involving intimate partner violence, coercive control, and patterns of abuse interspersed with affection. A third anonymous accuser also described similar behavior in The New York Times report.

Fifield expressed frustration at the Times’ assertion that her allegations lacked corroboration, highlighting the parallel details shared by multiple accusers despite the newspaper’s characterization of insufficient evidence.

As scrutiny of Platner intensifies, the senator’s campaign faces mounting pressure to address these allegations amid a politically charged environment ahead of the upcoming election.