Graham Platner’s Response to Allegations in Senate Race

Graham Platner, the Democratic candidate for Senate in Maine, addressed allegations regarding his past behavior in an interview following a report by The New York Times. Platner denied claims of physical harm towards a former partner and confirmed he would not withdraw from the race.

In a 25-minute interview on MS Now’s “All In With Chris Hayes,” Platner acknowledged past issues of self-medicating and conduct he described as “not exactly acting with the best behavior” after his military service. He insisted allegations of violent behavior toward a former girlfriend were “simply not true.”

“There’s a lot about my struggles, not being a good boyfriend, self-medicating with alcohol,” Platner explained. “I’ve been upfront since the campaign’s start that it was a dark period after my combat service.”

Despite the controversy and with a primary election just five days away, Platner stated he had never considered exiting the race in Maine, a state crucial for the Democratic Party to regain the Senate majority.

The report by The Times included details from Lyndsey Fifield, a former partner who dated Platner from 2013 to 2015. Fifield, a 40-year-old conservative from Virginia, alleged Platner often grabbed her by the shoulders and in one instance, twisted her arm and confined her in a bedroom until she calmed down. She noted he never hit or punched her.