Maine’s Democratic Senate Candidate Advocates for Subpoenas and Impeachment
In recent discussions about his candidacy, Graham Platner has emerged as the frontrunner in Maine’s Democratic primary for Senate. He has voiced strong intentions to issue subpoenas for a range of White House officials and is calling for the impeachment of Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito.
In an interview, Platner expressed his desire to “shut down” the White House, emphasizing his goal to hold accountable anyone in government who he believes is participating in illegal or unconstitutional activities. “I want every person in the White House, every person in every government agency, who is doing illegal and unconstitutional things to be hauled away,” he remarked.
Platner has accused various officials of misconduct, particularly pointing to actions taken by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and military operations against suspected narco-terrorists in the Caribbean, labeling these as acts of “murder.”
He also indicated that compelling reasons exist to pursue the impeachment of Justices Thomas and Alito. Platner mentioned concerns about the relationship between Thomas and Harlan Crowe, which he described as “clearly corrupt,” noting that Thomas has not recused himself from cases involving Crowe’s business interests.
Previously, Justice Thomas made amendments to his financial disclosures after it was revealed that he received gifts from Crowe, including travel and accommodations for luxury vacations. Thomas defended these actions by citing personal friendship and the rules regarding reporting gifts.
Although Platner did not specify crimes he believes Alito should be impeached for, he alluded to criticism surrounding a private jet trip Alito took, which was paid for by billionaire Paul Singer. Alito stated that such travels would not impinge upon his ability to adjudicate impartially.
Interestingly, other justices like Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson have also made updates to their financial disclosures, reflecting a broader trend among the Supreme Court justices to clarify their financial dealings.
On other matters, Platner reaffirmed his stance on not wasting time impeaching former President Trump if there’s no likelihood of conviction in the Senate. “If we don’t have the votes to convict in the Senate, I don’t think we should waste our time,” he commented.
Furthermore, he showed support for expanding the Supreme Court, highlighting a view that’s gaining traction among some left-leaning circles. While Platner has powerful endorsements from prominent figures like Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, his campaign has not been without challenges.
One of the most pressing controversies involves his past, specifically a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol that he got while drunk in Croatia. After the media brought it to light, Platner decided to cover it up and is now planning to have it removed entirely. Additionally, he faced scrutiny for past opinions expressed on Reddit that were considered problematic, which contributed to the complexities of his campaign.
As he navigates this tumultuous political landscape, Platner’s position in the polls shows promising signs against both incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins and his primary opponent, Maine Governor Janet Mills.
