Graham tells Dem senators ‘worst rumors not true’ in DC meeting

Graham Platner, who is challenging Republican incumbent Sen. Susan Collins in Maine’s Senate race, attempted damage control with Senate Democrats in Washington this week after revelations that he engaged in extramarital sexting with at least half a dozen women, according to New York Post.

The Marine veteran and oyster farmer addressed his hoped-for Senate colleagues on Tuesday, acknowledging his troubled personal history while trying to contain the fallout. It’s not a secret I’ve had a messy, complicated life, Platner told the gathering, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.

For months, political circles both in Washington and Maine have buzzed with speculation that additional damaging information about Platner could surface. No such reports have emerged publicly, but the candidate felt compelled to assure Democratic senators that the worst whispers about him lack foundation.

Progressive Endorsers Press for Answers

Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, who endorsed Platner over Maine’s Democratic Governor Janet Mills ahead of the June 9 primary, reportedly emphasized to the candidate the critical distinction between marital infidelity and potential criminal misconduct such as sexual assault.

Platner responded by stating that no credible accusations of that nature exist against him, according to the Wall Street Journal account.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, the Vermont independent who also backed Platner’s candidacy, likewise questioned whether any new allegations would emerge. Platner assured him they would not.

Anonymous Messaging App Scandal

The controversy erupted over the weekend when both the Wall Street Journal and New York Times published reports that Platner’s current wife had provided evidence of his inappropriate messages to the campaign’s former political director.

Platner had used Kik, an anonymous messaging application, to send sexually explicit content to multiple women. His account remained active as recently as earlier this week, according to reports.

The scandal comes despite Platner’s previous public denials about having additional damaging information in his past.

Hasty Return to Maine

Sen. Peter Welch, a Vermont Democrat, characterized Platner’s presentation to colleagues as accepting responsibility for addressing voter concerns. Platner acknowledged Maine voters have every right to question him about his personal conduct and that he bears responsibility for answering those questions, Welch told the Wall Street Journal.

Platner abruptly cut short his Washington visit and returned to Maine. His allies attributed the hasty departure to a New York Post reporter who appeared at his in-laws’ residence and his mother’s restaurant seeking comment.

Political Implications

Despite the scandal, recent polling shows Platner maintains a 7.8 percentage-point lead over Collins according to the latest RealClearPolitics aggregate.

However, Collins has demonstrated a consistent ability to outperform her polling numbers, most notably during her successful 2020 reelection campaign when she won despite trailing in most surveys.

Representatives for Platner, Warren, and Sanders did not respond to media requests for comment on the Tuesday meeting.

With information from New York Post