Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez from New York has expressed the need to review new allegations against Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner. The candidate faces accusations of aggressive behavior as highlighted in a recent report by the New York Times which documents the experiences of several women romantically involved with Platner. These women have alleged rape fantasies, excessive drinking, and violent incidents involving Platner.
Ocasio-Cortez stated, “This all kind of just came out. I’ve been doing legislative business on the floor, so I need to dig into everything further before commenting on it.” Ocasio-Cortez emphasized her desire to respect the individual involved while she examines the reports thoroughly.
Platner has openly acknowledged his struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), stemming from his military service, and has described this period of his life as very dark. “Throughout this campaign, I’ve been open about what was a very dark period of my life where I struggled with undiagnosed PTSD, too often self-medicated with alcohol and was far from a perfect boyfriend,” Platner said.
Lyndsey Fifield, a former girlfriend, recounted incidents of Platner pushing her into a room and twisting her arm behind her back.
Fifield also disclosed to the Times that Platner fantasized about harming those he considered threats, and she discussed his chest tattoo of a Totenkopf, a symbol used by Nazi death camp guards. She mentioned Platner’s explanation of the tattoo choice due to comparisons with the Schutzstaffel, a Nazi paramilitary organization. Ocasio-Cortez has not endorsed Platner, who seeks to challenge Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine.
The reporting raises further questions about Platner’s candidacy. Criticism has mounted regarding his inappropriate remarks on sensitive topics such as sexual abuse, race, and terror. He also faces scrutiny for potentially sending inappropriate messages to women outside his marriage.
In a Reddit post from 2013, Platner sparked outrage by suggesting that rape victims should take more responsibility for their situations.
Amid these controversies, Platner continues his campaign for progressive economic policies targeting billionaires and aiming to lower costs for working-class individuals. He remains positioned as a potential Democratic nominee to challenge Sen. Collins in the upcoming Senate primaries on Tuesday.
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