Controversy Surrounds Maine Senator Graham Platner’s Past Posts
Democratic leaders are hesitant to address whether the recent exposure of inappropriate posts by Maine Senator Graham Platner might negatively impact the party ahead of the midterm elections. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York commented on the situation, suggesting that Platner’s online history is hard to overlook.
The posts were uncovered from a trove of around 2,000 comments on Reddit, featuring offensive and explicit content. For instance, some of these posts include lewd comments about using portable toilets and praising inappropriate graffiti. One particular post even disparages a Purple Heart recipient, saying something quite shocking.
“I still have to masturbate every time I sit in Portas — erm… the smell of that blue water soothed me,” Platner allegedly wrote in one of his more crude remarks.
Progressive Senator Elizabeth Warren, who previously endorsed Platner for the Maine Democratic primary against Governor Janet Mills, did not provide a clear answer when asked if she would withdraw her support after these posts surfaced. Mills had recently exited the race due to poor polling performance.
Warren’s endorsement drew scrutiny as information about Platner’s previous controversial statements came to light. These included remarks that seemingly supported Hamas tactics, suggested that sexual assault victims needed to take responsibility, and questioned why African Americans don’t tip. Adding fuel to the fire was the revelation of a tattoo on Platner’s chest that resembled a Nazi symbol, as well as his participation in a subreddit where he labeled himself as a communist.
In a 2013 Reddit thread, Platner questioned why individuals do not take personal responsibility, saying, “Oh my god, why don’t people just take some responsibility for themselves and not get so frustrated that they end up having sex with someone they don’t want?” This came from a now-deleted account he acknowledged owning.
Warren defended her support for Platner despite the resurfacing of these inappropriate comments, emphasizing his apology and outreach to voters, allowing them to assess who he is today compared to his past. Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also avoided drawing definitive conclusions about Platner’s online history when pressed for comments.
Before stepping back from the contest, Schumer had shown support for Governor Mills against long-serving Republican Senator Susan Collins. Platner has since stated he would not support Schumer as Senate Democratic Leader, despite describing their previous conversation as “completely cordial.”
Platner is considered a serious contender to unseat Collins in the upcoming November elections. However, little action has been taken by Democrats to distance themselves from Platner amid the ongoing controversy surrounding his past.
In reaction to the scrutiny, a super PAC aligned with Collins’ campaign has invested $4 million into attack ads directed at Platner, including a recent ad that emphasizes his questionable online comments. Fox News Digital has reached out to Platner’s team for a response regarding the renewed attention on his Reddit history. He has, in the past, defended his remarks by claiming they were intended as jokes, urging readers to consider the comments in context and framing them as playful internet banter.
