Platner Denies Abuse Claims

During a recent appearance on MS NOW’s “All In,” Graham Platner, a Democratic Senate candidate from Maine, refuted allegations reported by The New York Times regarding physical abuse and Nazi-themed tattoos, calling them “not true” and “politically motivated.”

Here’s a portion of the transcript from the discussion:

Chris Hayes: There’s an important matter we need to discuss. It’s essential for voters to be informed. The term “rough,” as referred to by Fifield, raises questions. I’m sharing a quote from the Times: ‘Mr. Fifield said Platner was sometimes violent towards her, particularly when drinking, which frightened her. In an interview, she struggled to rationalize her experiences. She realized he never physically hit her, but noted he would grab her shoulder hard enough to leave marks and once pulled her out of a taxi during an argument. She described an incident when he twisted her arm, took her into a bedroom, closed the door, and told her to stay there until she calmed down. After falling asleep, she left the next morning. It hurt, she stated. Yet she added, “I wasn’t hurt and my arm wasn’t broken.” Did something like that occur?

Platner: No, that did not happen. I’ve got doubts about this story, and want to say clearly it’s false. The claims regarding physical characteristics and my tattoo come from people with political agendas. This narrative reflects my struggles with being a good partner and my issues with alcohol. I’ve openly acknowledged these challenges since returning from combat, which was a dark chapter in my life. Some accountability rests with me, but these serious allegations are untrue.

Hayes: You didn’t grab her wrist or put your hand on her shoulder? You’re proclaiming she’s lying?

Platner: Yes, that’s incorrect.

Hayes: Regarding tattoos, I’d like to address that. It’s something that seems to concern many people. She claimed you referred to your tattoo as Mein Totenkopf, a Nazi symbol. An anonymous source in Jewish Insider also mentioned you used that term. Did you know what this tattoo represented prior to last October when you said you first noticed it?

Platner: No, I did not. It’s important to remember that there’s a strong likelihood that she is relying on the same source. I feel like we’re revisiting old ground. I’ve had that tattoo for 17 years; it’s just a skull and crossbones. I’ve explained this to the Marines I served with in Iraq and Croatia. Throughout my service, I maintained security clearance from the State Department and even re-enlisted in the U.S. Army, where I underwent checks for gang affiliations and tattoos. I’ve openly shared this with my family, many of whom are Jewish. As part of our campaign, we produced a video showing me at my Jewish wife’s wedding, celebrating with her entire Jewish family. If I had known the implications of that tattoo, I would never have exposed it in that context. So, the assertion that I was aware is plainly false.