Multiple former girlfriends of Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner have described troubling conduct to The New York Times, with one accusing him of physical aggression during their relationship. Platner, who is running to unseat Republican Sen. Susan Collins in Maine, has denied the allegations and called them politically motivated. Despite the accusations, prominent Democrats have either remained silent or continued backing his campaign.
The allegations did not become public until Thursday, according to reports. Before that disclosure, another controversy had already emerged: Platner exchanged sexually explicit messages with multiple women while married. He flew to Washington Tuesday to meet with Democratic senators and address that scandal. According to reports, Democrats asked Platner during a closed-door meeting whether any other controversies would emerge about his personal life, and Platner said they would not.
What the Left Is Saying
Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., speaking to CNN on Thursday, said he was extending Platner "a measure of grace" while adding that accountability for conduct matters for Senate candidates and members alike. "I think it's important that anyone who is a candidate to serve in the Senate, or who serves in the Senate, be held accountable for their conduct," Coons said.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., one of the Senate's most outspoken advocates on sexual misconduct issues, met with Platner after the sexting reports surfaced and expressed continued confidence. "I'm very optimistic we're going to win Maine," Gillibrand, who leads the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), said following their meeting.
Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., who was scheduled to campaign with Platner Friday, reaffirmed his support despite the abuse allegations. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., one of Platner's highest-profile supporters, declined to comment on the new accusations.
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., offered a different assessment. "He lied to everybody," Fetterman told reporters. "He said that there wasn't any after his Nazi tattoo situation, and now there's more and more other things."
What the Right Is Saying
Republicans quickly seized on the contrast between how Democrats have handled allegations against Platner versus how they approached similar accusations against Republican figures in recent years.
According to The New York Times report, former girlfriend Lyndsey Fifield alleged that Platner regularly grabbed her by the shoulders, sometimes hard enough to leave marks. She also alleged that during an argument, he twisted her arm behind her back, shoved her into a bedroom and held the door shut so she could not leave. On one occasion, according to the report, he yanked her from a taxi by her wrist.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer repeatedly sidestepped questions about the sexting controversy after meeting with Platner in Washington, responding only that Democrats would "beat Susan Collins and take back the Senate." When pressed further, Schumer declined to elaborate and asked reporters for other subjects.
Critics have noted that this approach differs sharply from 2018, when many of the same Democratic lawmakers argued allegations against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh warranted investigation, public scrutiny and delays in confirmation.
What the Numbers Show
In 2018, following Christine Blasey Ford's accusations against Kavanaugh, multiple Senate Democrats called for the confirmation process to be halted pending investigation. Sanders said at the time: "The Senate should not vote on this nomination until that investigation is completed." Warren demanded scrutiny and argued Ford deserved to be heard. Gillibrand said Ford's account raised serious concerns about Kavanaugh's fitness for a lifetime Supreme Court appointment. Schumer called for delays after Ford's allegations became public.
According to the New York Times report, Platner told MS Now on Thursday: "There are some allegations in this piece that are simply not true. Anything alleging physicality, anything alleging I knew what my tattoo was, these are the statements of somebody politically motivated."
Regarding the earlier sexting reports, Platner said: "At the beginning of our marriage, I made mistakes, and Amy held me accountable for them," referring to his wife, Amy Gertner.
The Bottom Line
The response from top Democrats to allegations against their own candidate has drawn scrutiny given their previous positions on misconduct accusations against Republican officeholders. Some members of the party have continued supporting Platner's campaign despite the abuse allegations becoming public, while others have offered measured support or criticism. Platner has denied all allegations and characterized them as politically motivated. The situation remains developing, with questions remaining about whether additional information may emerge ahead of the Maine Senate race.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Democratic senators mentioned in this article and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee for comment.