Graham Platner Faces Media Backlash Over Alleged Scandal

Graham Platner, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate from Maine, has accused media outlets of “journalistic misconduct” regarding reports of an alleged sexting scandal.

In a statement to reporters on Sunday, he specifically targeted the Wall Street Journal and New York Times, which published news about the scandal the previous day.

“The Wall Street Journal and New York Times published a story without any evidence, just gossip from a former staffer… This is, frankly, journalistic misconduct,” Platner stated.

According to both outlets, Platner’s wife had informed the campaign about messages suggesting that he was sexting with multiple women while they were married, a union that began in 2023.

Current and former campaign officials have reportedly corroborated this information. One official mentioned that, allegedly, this behavior had ceased before the campaign commenced.

Genevieve McDonald, a former senior aide, said that she was approached by Platner in 2025 about these accusations.

In a statement from Platner’s campaign, McDonald described feeling betrayed by unnamed campaign staff. She expressed her hurt over the privacy invasion.

“I trusted this individual with some of the most private moments of our lives early in our marriage, and I am deeply hurt by their betrayal,” she said.

In a video shared on Platner’s social media over the weekend, McDonald called it “disgraceful” that gossip was taking precedence over important issues.

“It’s disappointing that some media outlets would choose to spread this kind of gossip rather than engage with the real issues that Graham is focused on,” she noted.

In a Sunday statement to CBS News, Platner acknowledged previous challenges in his relationship. He emphasized the importance of addressing substantial issues in his campaign.

“Amy and I have overcome a lot because of me. I appreciate her more every day,” Platner remarked.

“This campaign is about ideas that can move Maine forward, beyond the broken politics we’ve seen.”

A source within the campaign confirmed to CBS News that Platner did not deny the existence of the messages, although he expressed frustration over the sensational coverage.

“Graham has not claimed that the emails he sent are untrue. He’s simply annoyed that private matters shared by a former friend are being blown out of proportion,” a campaign source explained.

When asked directly about the veracity of the allegations, Platner was adamant.

“No, that’s the surprising part,” he responded sharply, criticizing the reporting from WSJ and New York Times.

He was probed further about whether he had met McDonald regarding the accusations, which he denied but acknowledged discussing their personal challenges.

“We talked about our marriage over the years. Genevieve McDonald’s allegations are incorrect,” he stated.

Platner is gearing up to be the Democratic candidate for the state Senate, with the election set for June 9th. If successful, he will challenge Republican incumbent Susan Collins in November.

Platner’s campaign has also faced scrutiny due to resurfaced controversial remarks, including those about veterans, as well as past associations with Nazi tattoos. He claimed to have obtained the tattoo while drinking in Croatia back in 2007, claiming ignorance of its meaning but later indicating that he covered it up.