Top Campaign Strategist for Maine Senate Candidates Comments on Vetting Process

Dan Morav, a leading strategist for Maine Senator Graham Platner, chuckled when asked about the vetting process but acknowledged that his firm overlooked some contentious details. Fox News contributor Jonathan Turley took issue with the strategists, labeling them “dishonest” and voicing concerns over the potential erosion of public trust. He highlighted the serious implications of a flawed review regarding the Democratic Party’s credibility and the integrity of elections.

New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani has made it clear that he plans to stick with Morris Katz, a pivotal political consultant behind Platner’s Senate campaign. “I will continue to work with Morris Katz. He remains my top advisor,” Mamdani said during a press conference on Monday.

The backdrop to these discussions is Platner’s recent withdrawal from the race following rape allegations made by his ex-girlfriend—accusations that he firmly denies. This move prompted backlash from some Democrats, who criticized Katz for failing to conduct thorough due diligence before elevating Platner within the party ranks. Now, there are calls for Katz to be barred from future political endeavors.

Sources indicate that Katz and his consulting partner, Daniel Morav, disregarded several requests from their investigative team to delve deeper into Platner’s past, growing concerned about a potential scandal. They opted for a three-day investigation that cost just over $6,000, a process that usually requires several weeks and tens of thousands in funding.

Combining various controversies, Platner is also under fire for offensive Reddit posts that have since been deleted, tattoos linked to Nazi symbolism from his military service, and allegations of past abusive behavior towards women.

A reporter brought up the topic of Mamdani, referencing a letter circulated by the Democratic Socialist Party of America urging political affiliates to refrain from collaborating with Katz.

Demands for Platner’s Withdrawal

Democrats claim that Katz played a significant role in promoting Platner, even suggesting he could be a presidential candidate to succeed the aging Senator Bernie Sanders—a claim that Platner has since refuted.

Following Platner’s announcement to suspend his campaign, Katz stated: “As soon as our team learned of the rape allegations against Graham Platner, we advised him to halt his candidacy and scaled back operations in the following days,” expressing his deep disappointment.

Further Scrutiny and Threats

Initially, Platner’s campaign denied the allegations prior to his eventual suspension. Reports also emerged claiming that Katz threatened Genevieve McDonald, a former staffer, trying to dissuade her from speaking to reporters about Platner’s alleged emotional abuse of women. Katz wrote in a message accessed by news sources: “If this story were to progress as it currently stands, it would mark a breach of trust and reveal deceit to sabotage our campaign.”

This isn’t the first time Katz has faced backlash; earlier this year he was criticized for a book targeting adolescents. Published in 2020, it included titles like “Your New Penis” and “The Magic of Masturbation,” which quickly drew disapproval from conservative circles. Katz claimed a planned illustration of his own anatomy for educational purposes was a joke, but it didn’t quell the uproar.

In March, as the footnote about the illustration surfaced, the National Republican Senatorial Committee labeled Katz’s remarks “absolutely disgusting.” Mayor Mamdani’s office has yet to respond to requests for comments regarding the ongoing situation.