Sen. John Fetterman issued a scathing takedown of Graham Platner as the leading Democratic candidate in Maine’s Senate race has become embroiled in a scandal over reports that he sent sexual text messages to women who were not his wife.
In an interview with CNN Tuesday, the Pennsylvania Democrat also laid into Platner over past social media posts that have haunted Platner’s campaign for months. Fetterman likened Platner to a “Nazi sympathizer” over a now-infamous tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol. Platner has apologized for the past posts and has pleaded ignorance over the meaning of the tattoo, which he has since covered.
“When I was growing up, if someone had a clear Nazi tattoo on them, you probably could conclude that they’re a Nazi sympathizer,” Fetterman said, before rattling off some of Platner’s more incendiary posts. “Are you going to continue to defend that or dismiss that?”
The sharp criticism comes as many Senate Democrats have been reluctant to criticize their party’s top candidate in Maine’s highly competitive Senate race after reports have circulated about Platner’s wife flagging his sexual texts with other women to his campaign.
“I met with Graham Platner today. We’re going to beat Susan Collins, take back the Senate,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said on Tuesday.
