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U.S. Sen. John Fetterman criticized Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner over reports of sexual messages and a controversial tattoo.Fetterman's criticism of Platner marks a break from other Senate Democrats, who have been more reserved on the issue.Platner is the leading Democratic candidate for Maine's Senate race, polling ahead of Republican incumbent Susan Collins.In the wake of reports about sexual messages between Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner and women outside his marriage, most Democrats have been quiet about the issue — but not U.S. Sen. John Fetterman.The Pennsylvania Democrat from Allegheny County lambasted Platner over various issues in a June 2 interview with CNN, calling him a "creep" and a "Nazi sympathizer."Platner is the leading Democratic candidate for Maine's Senate race, and in a recent University of New Hampshire Survey Center poll, he led 51% to 42% over Republican incumbent Susan Collins, according to USA TODAY.Fetterman calls Platner a 'creep' over sexting scandal, blasts Nazi tattooIn a June 2 interview with CNN, Fetterman lambasted Platner over sexual messages he allegedly sent to women outside his marriage over the massaging app Kik under the username "phustle0331.""What kind of a creep? What kind of a creeper has been on … a platform like Kik, and send a dozen explicit kinds of messages and who knows what else?" Fetterman said.Fetterman also laid into Platner over his tattoo of a skull and crossbones that resembles a Nazi symbol. Platner has said he didn't know the meaning of the tattoo when he got it as a Marine and has since covered it."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.Fetterman breaks from Democrats as he slams Platner over sexting scandalIn criticizing Platner, Fetterman once again broke with Senate Democrats, who have hesitated to offer any negative comments toward Platner since reports of his sexual texts with other women emerged, CNN reported.On June 2, Platner met with Senate Democrats in Washington, DC, including Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Peter Welch (D-VT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Adam Schiff (D-CA) and independent Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), CNN reported.Prior to the reports of sexual texts, Sanders and Warren both gave Platner their endorsements, USA TODAY previously reported."Now, why do the richest people in this country want to defeat Graham Platner?" Sanders said on June 2, CNN reported. "That should tell you everything you need to know, because he’s gonna stand up for working people. Is he a saint? I guess not. I don’t know too many saints here."Fetterman, Platner are no fans of one anotherIn his June 2 interview with CNN, Fetterman didn't say if he would back Platner if he becomes the Democratic nominee and responded, "No, no, I don't know" when asked about whether or not he would back GOP Sen. Susan Collins over Platner in a general election.While Fetterman conceded that if Platner wins, they'll "all have to work together," Platner has also expressed distaste for Fetterman. During an interview with Mehdi Hasan earlier this year, Platner responded to a comparison between the two of them by calling Fetterman the "bane of my existence."What was Platner accused of in sexting scandal?At the end of May, both the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times reported that Platner had exchanged sexual messages with women outside his marriage prior to his campaign.His wife, Amy Gertner, responded in a video posted to social media the same day. While she didn't directly address the texts, she said she and Platner were in marriage counseling to work through challenges brought up through his campaign as well as infertility, USA TODAY previously reported."It makes me really angry, disappointed, and I find 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," Gertner said. "No marriage is perfect and I don’t want a perfect marriage. I want our marriage."Platner's past controversies over Nazi tattoo, Reddit postsPlatner has previously been caught up in controversy, facing criticism over his now-covered tattoo that resembled a Nazi symbol in October 2025, as well as critiques over old Reddit posts in which he made controversial comments about sexual assault and race, USA TODAY previously reported.In addition to covering his tattoo, he has denounced the contents of his Reddit posts, saying he no longer agrees with what he said.Finch Walker is the Pittsburgh Connect Reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Contact Walker at FWalker@usatodayco.com. Instagram: @finchwalker_. X: @_finchwalker.
