Controversy Surrounds Senate Candidate’s Tattoo and Past Behavior

A senior House Democrat has voiced doubts about Senate candidate Graham Platner’s statement that he was unaware of his tattoo’s Nazi connections. Representative Brad Schneider from Illinois, speaking to Punchbowl News, expressed disbelief, stating, “There’s no way he didn’t know what the tattoo was. Own it and move on.” Schneider, who chairs the House Democrats’ largest caucus, noted, “He’s not willing to do that.”

Schneider joins a growing number of critics questioning Platner, a Democratic hopeful for the Maine Senate, who faces challenges due to several controversies. These include allegations of sending sexually explicit messages shortly after marriage, a long history of offensive online posts, and supposed past abusive behavior in relationships.

Platner aims to challenge Republican Senator Susan Collins in a closely watched race for the November midterm elections. Some Democrats are doubtful about Platner’s chances due to his scandal-plagued history. Schneider’s criticism follows a New York Times report where some of Platner’s former partners suggested he was aware of the tattoo’s Nazi design.

One ex-girlfriend, Lyndsey Fifield, shared with The Times that Platner had explained the black skull-and-crossbones tattoo as his “Totenkopf” and often joked about its Nazi origins. She claimed Platner felt an affinity between his unit and the Nazi SS forces. Platner denied Fifield’s description during an interview with MS NOW’s Chris Hayes. Yet, questions arose about a text Fifield sent in August 2025, identifying the tattoo’s link, which Platner did not address until October on “Pod Save America.”

Hayes questioned Platner during the interview, “How does she know it’s a Nazi tattoo in August of last year, and you don’t know it’s a Nazi tattoo in August of last year?” Platner replied, “I can’t say why,” explaining he was unaware of Fifield’s messages. Fifield also accused Platner of assault during their relationship, which Platner denies.

Platner later covered the controversial tattoo once it became a campaign issue in late 2025. According to him, he got the tattoo following a night of drinking with fellow Marines in Croatia in 2007, keeping it for nearly 20 years.

The controversy has led to Democratic divisions over Platner’s candidacy. Schneider indicated hesitance to support Platner if he were voting in Maine, saying, “I wouldn’t want to have to make that choice.” Other Democrats, like Representatives Jake Auchincloss from Massachusetts and Senator John Fetterman from Pennsylvania, have also criticized Platner’s defense of the tattoo. Fetterman remarked on CNN, “All I’m saying is when I was growing up, if someone had a clear Nazi tattoo on them, you probably could conclude that they’re a Nazi sympathizer. Are you going to continue to defend that or dismiss that?”

Schneider’s New Democrat Coalition, consisting of over 100 members, is the largest caucus among House Democrats. Fox News Digital contacted Platner’s campaign for comment before the story’s release.