Guy Benson reacts to Graham Platner allegations
Guy Benson, a Washington Examiner columnist, stated that the sexual assault allegations against Maine Senate candidate Graham platner are gaining clarity, especially after a campaign video outlining the future steps. Benson suggested that there have been persistent whispers about additional issues with Platner, and recent reports indicate mounting evidence against him. Platner responded to new allegations involving a woman who claimed he sexually assaulted her while intoxicated, and he announced he is reflecting on his campaign’s next move. The democratic Party is heavily urging him to withdraw, with prominent senators like Gillibrand and Schumer condemning the allegations and advocating for a new candidate to face Republican Susan Collins. Benson criticized Maine voters for supporting Platner despite known concerns, including his Nazi tattoo during military service, which he claimed to be unaware of in meaning at the time. Evidence suggests Platner knew the significance of the tattoo,as he reportedly taught his former partner the word for it. The controversy has led to calls for him to step aside, with predictions that he will likely exit the race soon, as party officials and voters reassess thier support.
Washington Examiner columnist Guy Benson said the sexual assault allegations against Democratic Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner are all “pointing in one direction,” following the release of a new campaign video outlining the path forward.
“There have been loud whispers for months that there was more to drop on this guy; here’s maybe the big shoe,” Benson said on Fox News’s Special Report with Bret Baier Monday.
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On Monday, Platner responded to another report of sexual assault allegations against him. The woman, who previously dated Platner, said he sexually assaulted her while severely intoxicated, according to a bombshell report from Politico.
In a video, Platner said he was taking time to “reflect” on his campaign’s “best path forward.”
Benson argued that Democrats are “in a bind” over the allegations: “I don’t think he’s going to stay in the race.”
It comes as the Democratic Senate campaign said it won’t spend money in Maine if Platner is the candidate.
“The main campaign arm of Senate Democrats called on Platner to drop out and said it would spend no money on the race, which is considered critical to control of the chamber, if he is the nominee,” according to a report from the Associated Press.
Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), chairwoman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, and Chuck Schumer (D-NY), the top Senate Democrat, said the allegations “are incredibly disturbing – violence, abuse and sexual assault are absolutely unacceptable.”
“Graham Platner needs to immediately withdraw as the Democratic nominee for Senate and allow Maine Democrats the opportunity to choose a new candidate who can defeat [incumbent Republican Sen.] Susan Collins,” Gillibrand and Schumer said in a joint statement.
“This is all pointing in one direction. I think we’ll see this exit within the next week, maybe sooner,” Benson said.
Benson criticized Maine voters, saying they knew about things such as Platner’s Nazi tattoo and a report from the New York Times that detailed other sexual assault allegations, but also highlighted that Platner knew what the tattoo meant before he got it covered up.
During his military service, Platner got a Totenkopf tattoo, which is a Nazi symbol. He claimed he had no idea of its meaning. In an interview with Tommy Vietor of Pod Save America, Platner said, “I am not a secret Nazi.”
In the New York Times report, one woman who dated Platner said he had to have known what it meant, because he was the one who taught her the word for it when they were dating.
She said he referred to it as “my Totenkopf.”
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“They [Maine voters] saw all of that and said, ‘That’s our guy.’ They overwhelmingly nominated him just a few weeks ago, with these rumors that there might be more to come. Now, it’s here,” Benson said.
“We’ll see how the base reacts if he’s forced out and they just sort of ‘Biden him.’”
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