Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner used a marketing campaign rally in Maine on Friday to push again in opposition to the rising controversies engulfing his marketing campaign, dismissing current allegations in opposition to him as “politically motivated” and thanking supporters for standing by him as scrutiny intensifies.
Platner alluded repeatedly to the scandals which have rocked his bid to unseat Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), together with resurfaced Reddit posts, allegations from former romantic companions and reporting about sexually specific messages despatched throughout his marriage.
“When hurtful issues I mentioned on the web a decade in the past got here out into the general public, as I shared my private journey by way of PTSD and the darkness of restoration, accountability and progress, Maine had my again,” Platner informed the group in Bar Harbor on Friday.
“As each single piece of that previous and journey will get dug up, litigated, and weaponized. You’ve got my again,” he mentioned as new polling numbers present a good race in opposition to the Republican incumbent, Sen. Susan Collins.
“And when politically motivated, critical and false accusations are made in opposition to me, Maine, you will have my again.”
The remarks marked one among Platner’s most direct public responses but to a wave of damaging tales which have threatened to derail his rebel Senate marketing campaign.
In current weeks, reporting by the Wall Avenue Journal detailed sexually specific messages that Platner despatched to different ladies throughout his marriage.
Separate reporting by the New York Instances cited former romantic companions who alleged episodes of bodily intimidation, heavy consuming and troubling conduct throughout previous relationships.
Platner has denied probably the most critical allegations in opposition to him.
Friday’s look in Bar Harbor got here because the Democrat sought to refocus consideration on his financial message and forged himself as a champion of working-class Mainers battling rising prices and financial insecurity.
The controversies started final 12 months when archived Reddit posts surfaced exhibiting Platner making remarks about race, sexual assault, cops and LGBTQ folks.
Platner apologized for the posts, describing them as merchandise of a darkish interval in his life following navy service and struggles with PTSD.
The scrutiny intensified after questions emerged a few chest tattoo resembling a Nazi-linked Totenkopf image.
Platner acknowledged having the tattoo and later lined it up, insisting he didn’t perceive its affiliation with Nazi Germany when he obtained it whereas intoxicated in Croatia in 2007.
Critics and former associates have disputed that declare.
Extra just lately, the Journal reported that Platner exchanged sexually specific messages with a number of ladies throughout his marriage.
The existence of the messages was later acknowledged by campaign-linked sources, although there was disagreement over what number of ladies obtained them. Platner and his spouse, Amy, have mentioned they labored by way of the difficulty by way of counseling.
Essentially the most critical allegations emerged this month when the New York Instances cited former romantic companions who accused Platner of bodily intimidation, heavy consuming and different troubling conduct throughout previous relationships.
One former girlfriend alleged he grabbed her arduous sufficient to depart marks and as soon as held her in a room throughout an argument. Platner has denied allegations involving bodily abuse, calling them false and politically motivated.
The scrutiny has additionally prolonged to Platner’s use of the messaging app Kik, which is used primarily by youthful web subscribers.
Information stories recognized an energetic Kik profile linked to Platner courting again years, and his marketing campaign has acknowledged that the account belongs to him.
Marketing campaign officers have mentioned Platner deleted the app from his cellphone however by no means deactivated the account.
Throughout the rally, Platner acknowledged his spouse, telling the group: “And I might not consider [in redemption] as a result of I might not have lived it if it was not for my spouse Amy Jane.”
The Journal report prompted a public protection from Platner’s spouse, Amy Gertner, who posted a video saying the couple had labored by way of difficulties early of their marriage by way of counseling.
Gertner described the disclosure of personal marital points as a betrayal and mentioned the expertise in the end made their relationship stronger.
