PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Old comments by a Maine U.S. Senate candidate in which the candidate appeared to endorse political violence, reject rape in the military and criticize police officers and rural America were wrong but not impeachable, the Democratic national chairwoman said.
Graham Platner is running for the US Senate seat in Maine, which he has held since 1997. held by Republican Susan Collins. He faces a field of contenders, including Democratic Maine Gov. Janet Mills, who announced her candidacy last week.
Last week, CNN first reported Platner’s old Reddit posts, which he deleted after entering the Senate race, and several media outlets have since surfaced with separate, conflicting reports. The entries were published from 2013 to 2021. Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin said during an appearance on CNN on Sunday that he didn’t think the posts were “disqualifying” but said they were “wrong” and “offensive” and was glad Platner apologized for them.
“I don’t think they’re disqualifying, but they’re certainly not right,” Martin said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “And I’m glad he apologized for them.
Platner apologized for the comments in a video he posted on social media on Friday. He said the reports came after he left the army in 2012, adding that he “still had the crude humour, the dark, dark feelings and the abusive language that was really the hallmark of the infantry when I was there”. He also said he struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder and depression at the time.
“I’m sorry for that. Just know that it doesn’t reflect who I am at all. I don’t want you to judge me for the stupidest thing I’ve ever written on the internet. I’d like people to judge me for the person I am today,” Platner said.
In the days following his apology, Platner posted more of his old Reddit posts, emphasizing that he spent a lot of time online encouraging other veterans to get help. He also released additional Reddit posts in which he criticized homophobia and misogyny in the military. One post he shared Monday said he was frustrated by the “rampant misogyny and queerness” in the Marine Corps, where he also served.
Platner is an oyster farmer making his first attempt at public office with a progressive campaign and an aggressive social media presence. He has the support of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who described Platner as a stronger candidate for the post than Mills.
Mills’ campaign did not respond to a request for comment Monday.
Collins’ campaign said Friday that Platner’s old posts “demean everyone from rural people to the police” and the disabled. The campaign statement also said the infighting over the posts illustrates the rift between different factions of the Democratic Party.
But some state Democratic leaders said they continued to support Plattner after the posts came to light.
“I think it’s about Graham’s authenticity, and it’s going to happen,” said former Waterville Mayor Karen Heck.
Meanwhile, Plattner’s political director resigned in response to news of the old Reddit posts.
“While I empathize with Graham’s experience and respect his personal journey and growth, I cannot help but notice the scope and nature of his past comments, many of which were adult rather than juvenile,” wrote Genevieve L. McDonald, who has worked on 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 that I can stand for when running for the United States Senate.”
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Kruesi reported from Providence, Rhode Island.