Topline
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., reaffirmed his support for Graham Platner, Maine’s presumptive Democratic nominee for Senate, on Saturday, after fresh allegations in the New York Times this week from multiple women accusing Platner of disturbing behavior and creating “toxic” relationships.
Key Facts
Sanders did not directly address the allegations against Platner, instead insisting in a social media post the Maine Senate nominee was “the only candidate who will do something” about the economy, healthcare and tax system.
Platner said during a Friday rally in Maine, “As every single piece of that past and journey gets dug up, litigated, and weaponized, you have my back.”
Platner asked his wife, Amy Gertner, to stand during his rally, with supporters giving her a standing ovation as they chanted her name.
What were the latest allegations made against Platner?
Some of the women interviewed by the Times described Platner as fun, caring and safe to be around, though others detailed “toxic” relationships they had with him. Lyndsey Fifield, 40, who said she dated Platner from 2013 to 2015, told the Times that Platner was “cavalierly contemptuous of women’s emotions, of our ‘weakness.’” Fifield also accused Platner of being rough with her while he drank, clarifying to the Times she was never struck by him but was regularly grabbed by the shoulders. enny Racicot, 41, who said she dated Platner between 2019 and 2021, referenced controversial online posts he made in the past about sexual assault and rural white Americans, saying she “recognized a version of him that I had experiences with.” Forbes has reached out to Platner’s campaign, which told the Times he “strongly disputes” claims of physical intimidation or altercations—though it did not dispute the claims around his remarks. The Times noted it could not independently corroborate Fifield’s claims regarding physical contact.
Platner’s Initial Response To The New Allegations
In an MS NOW interview, Platner was confronted with the latest allegations and he said they were not true. After interviewer Chris Hayes read out a snippet from the article, the Democratic candidate responded: “There are some allegations in this piece that I just want to be kind of unequivocal about, are simply not true. Anything alleging physicality, anything alleging that I knew what my tattoo was, these are the statements of someone who’s politically motivated.” Platner noted that the reporting about him “struggling, not being a good boyfriend, certainly self-medicating with alcohol,” is something he’s been “very up front since the beginning of this campaign that that was a pretty dark period of my life after I came back from my combat service.” He added there are things in the article he “absolutely will take responsibility for…But those serious allegations are just not true.”
What Do We Know About Platner’s Sexting Scandal?
Last weekend, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, reported that Gertner told his Senate campaign last year about sexually explicit texts he sent to several women to ensure they didn’t impact his campaign. Former Maine state legislator Genevieve McDonald, who also served as the Platner campaign’s political director until October last year, told the Times that Gertner reached out to her before a rally with Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., to inform her about the texts he sent to as many as a dozen women. McDonald also told the Times the Senate is “not a training ground for redemption,” and instead a “place for proven leaders with moral clarity and integrity.”
How did Platner and his campaign respond to the sexting scandal?
After a campaign event on Sunday, Platner was asked about the reports and said he wasn’t surprised that “establishment media outlets” were running “gossip” instead of issues that “actually matter in this race.” The Democratic candidate, who was standing with his wife, accused the Times and the Journal of “journalistic malpractice” and claimed that they ran stories without any evidence “besides the gossip from a former staffer” He added: “I’m confirming that what Genevieve McDonald said in the New York Times is not true.” His campaign also released a video statement from Gertner in which the Democratic candidate’s wife said she was “really angry, disappointed” that her disclosure was made public and she “[finds] it really shameful that there’s a group of media outlets and people who are willing to spread gossip instead of talking about real issues that Graham is running on.”
How have betting markets reacted to Platner’s scandals?
Platner’s odds of winning Maine’s Senate race against Republican incumbent Sen. Susan Collins have plummeted this week on election betting markets. Bettors on Kalshi predict the race is now a toss up with the Democratic candidate’s odds falling from 72% last month to 54% early on Saturday. On the crypto betting platform Polymarket, Platner’s odds have a similar drop, falling from 78% in on May 23 to 60% as of early Saturday.
Crucial Quote
“Let’s be very clear: This is a lifelong G.O.P. operative who’s dedicated her career to electing Republicans.” Platner’s campaign told the Times about Fifield, who has worked for Republican campaigns in Virginia.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
Maine’s primaries are June 9.
Further Reading
Progressive Leaders Brush Off Graham Platner’s Sexting Controversy: ‘He Has Grown’ (Forbes)
Graham Platner And His Wife Dismiss Reports Of His Alleged Sexting As ‘Gossip’ (Forbes)
