By Ted Cohen

Vermont’s senior U.S. senator, who was effectively the last man standing defending an embattled senate candidate from Maine, has finally gone south on Graham Platner.

“I have recommended that he step aside,” Sanders said Tuesday, breaking his silence on the accused rapist.

Sanders was among Platner’s earliest supporters in Maine’s senate race, endorsing the Democrat nominee long before other party luminaries reluctantly decided they could live with him.

But once a major Washington news outlet ran a piece Monday quoting one of Platner’s girlfriends alleging he once raped her, party leaders who had finally backed Platner began falling like flies.

Sanders was a holdout, refusing to join the Platner critics until political pressure apparently gave him no choice.

“I have spoken with Graham Platner about the best path forward for Maine,” Sanders finally said Tuesday. “In light of these very serious allegations, I have recommended that he step aside.”

Platner has said he is reviewing his options but has stopped short of quitting the race, despite pressure from the party to do so.

Under Maine election law, he has until July 13th to decide whether to resign as the Democrat candidate against U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, a five-term Republican.

Bernie Sanders statement