Graham Platner, the Democratic candidate for Senate in Maine, has addressed concerns about his past behavior in light of a recent New York Times report. The article highlighted allegations regarding his treatment of women he dated. Platner acknowledged some personal missteps after his military service, emphasizing that he would ‘absolutely take responsibility’ for certain aspects of his past.
In an interview on MS Now’s ‘All In With Chris Hayes,’ Platner denied any violent behavior, particularly disputing claims of physical harm towards a former girlfriend. He stressed, ‘any allegations that I had behaved violently toward a girlfriend were simply not true.’ His comments came during a 25-minute segment on the show, marking his first public response to the story.
Platner discussed his struggles with self-medication and mentioned experiencing a challenging time after returning from combat service. ‘I have been very upfront since the campaign began that that was a pretty dark period of my life,’ he said, referencing his actions post-military service.
Despite the allegations, Platner maintained his commitment to the Senate race, which remains crucial for the Democratic Party’s strategy to regain Senate control. He stated he had ‘not once’ thought about ending his campaign.
The New York Times report included statements from Lyndsey Fifield, a Virginia conservative who dated Platner between 2013 and 2015. She described incidents where Platner allegedly grabbed her by the shoulders and twisted her arm. However, she clarified that Platner never physically struck her.
Leave a Reply