PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Previous online comments made by a U.S. Senate candidate in Maine, in which the candidate appeared to endorse political violence, reject rape in the military and criticize both police officers and rural America, were erroneous but did not disqualify the state chairman from office. Democratic Party said.
Graham Platner is running for a U.S. Senate seat in Maine, held by a Republican. Susan Collins since 1997. He faces a leading field for the nomination that also includes Maine’s Democratic governor, Janet. Millswho announced his candidacy last week.
CNN first reported last week on old Reddit posts Platner had made that he had deleted since entering the Senate race, and several media outlets followed up, revealing separate controversial posts. The messages were posted between 2013 and 2021. Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin said Sunday during an appearance on CNN that he did not think the messages were “disqualifying” but said they were “not fair” and “offensive” and he was glad Platner apologized for them.
“I don’t think they’re disqualifying, but they’re certainly not right,” Martin said, speaking on CNN’s State of the Union. “And I’m glad he apologized for them. They are indefensible, hurtful and offensive.”
Platner apologized for the comments in a video he posted on social media on Friday. He said the posts were made after he left the army in 2012, adding that he “still had the crude humor, the dark sentiments, the offensive language that was really a hallmark of the infantry when I was there.” He also said he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and depression at the time.
“I’m sorry about that. Just know that it doesn’t reflect who I am at all. I don’t want you to judge me on the stupidest thing I’ve ever written on the internet. I would prefer if people could judge me on the person I am today,” Platner said.
In the days following his apology, Platner posted more of his old posts to Reddit, noting that he spent a lot of time online encouraging other veterans to get help. He also posted other posts on Reddit showing him criticizing homophobia and misogyny within the military. A post he shared Monday said he was disappointed by “widespread misogyny and weirdness” in the Marines, in which he also served.
Platner is an oyster farmer making his first attempt at public office and running a progressive campaign with an aggressive social media presence. He has the support of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who has described Platner as a stronger candidate than Mills for the seat.
The Mills campaign did not respond to a request for comment Monday.
The Collins campaign said in a statement Friday that Platner’s old posts “denigrated everyone from people living in rural areas to police” and people with disabilities. The campaign also said in the statement that the controversy surrounding the positions illustrated the divisions between different factions of the Democratic Party.
But some Democratic leaders in the state said they continued to support Platner after those messages came to light.
“I think it’s about Graham’s authenticity and that’s what’s going to come out,” said Karen Heck, former mayor of Waterville.
Meanwhile, Platner’s political director resigned in response to news of the old Reddit posts.
“While I am sensitive to Graham’s experiences and respect his personal journey and evolution, I cannot ignore the volume and nature of his past comments, many of which were made as an adult and not as a young man,” wrote Genevieve L. McDonald, who had worked for the campaign for several months. “These statements were not known to me when I agreed to join the campaign, and they are not words or values I can stand for as a candidate for U.S. Senate.”
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Kruesi reported from Providence, Rhode Island.
