Graham Platner Addresses Allegations in Senate Campaign

Graham Platner, the Democratic candidate for Senate in Maine, has stated he would “absolutely take responsibility” for parts of his past personal conduct. This comes after The New York Times reported on his treatment of women he had dated.

In an interview on MS Now’s “All In With Chris Hayes,” Platner, the presumptive nominee, addressed allegations without committing to stepping down from the race. The reports include accusations of physically harming a woman, which he firmly denies.

Platner acknowledged struggles with self-medication and admitted to “not exactly acting with the best behavior” following his military service. He emphasized that the claims of violent behavior towards a woman were “simply not true.”

“There’s a lot about my struggling, not being a good boyfriend, certainly self-medicating with alcohol,” Platner remarked. “I’ve been upfront since the beginning of this campaign about the dark period of my life after combat service.”

With the primary just days away, Platner confirmed he had “not once” thought about withdrawing from the campaign. Maine’s election is crucial for Democrats aiming to regain control of the Senate in the upcoming midterms.

Earlier, The Times published claims by Lyndsey Fifield, a conservative from Virginia who dated Platner between 2013 and 2015. She described incidents where Platner allegedly grabbed her shoulders, twisted her arm, and confined her in a room during heated exchanges. Although she noted he never hit or punched her, the report highlights issues that Platner must address as the primary approaches.