Sen. Mark Warner urges Graham Platner to disprove ‘disturbing’ abuse allegations
Sen. mark Warner (D-VA) urged Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner too address and refute “disturbing” allegations reported by the *New York Times* that claim Platner emotionally abused ex-girlfriends and showed volatile, toxic behavior.
Asked on ABC’s *This Week* whether denying the claims and calling them politically motivated was the right response, Warner said if the allegations are contested, Platner should at least attempt to disprove them. Warner also noted that even similar controversies have not necessarily prevented Donald Trump from winning earlier elections, while emphasizing that voters-not politicians-will ultimately decide whether Platner’s past controversies should disqualify him.
The article also notes Democrats’ broader focus on regaining Senate control, with Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) as a key target. It states Democrats stayed with Platner after Gov. Janet Mills (D-ME) withdrew, and that while some progressives continue to back him, other Democrats have taken a more cautious approach and concentrated on defeating Collins ahead of the June 9 primary.
Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) on Sunday urged Maine Senate hopeful Graham Platner to disprove what Warner called “disturbing” allegations of emotional abuse of ex-girlfriends.
Speaking with ABC’s This Week, Warner was asked about allegations brought by former partners of Platner that accuse the Democratic candidate of emotional abuse and volatile, toxic behavior that were published by the New York Times on Thursday.
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“If the allegations are true, they are disturbing,” Warner said.
When asked if Platner was handling the allegations brought against him correctly by denying them, calling them “politically motivated,” and pointed to his struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of his time as a Marine.
Warner compared the situation with Platner to President Donald Trump’s first presidential campaign when recordings surfaced of the president saying “very disparaging” things, the Virginia senator said.
“This whole realm changed dramatically when Donald Trump ran his first time, was caught on tape saying extraordinarily dispiriting things,” Warner said. “That seemed not to stop Trump getting elected.”
As for Platner, he encouraged the candidate to refute the allegations against him.
“I don’t know Mr. Platner, I’ve never met him,” Warner said. “I would just say this: The allegations are made. I think you ought to have at least some attempt to … disprove them, if that’s the case.”
Warner said that Maine voters will ultimately decide if the allegations against Platner and his past controversies bar him from serving as one of the state’s senators.
FOUR SCANDALS MAINE SENATE CANDIDATE GRAHAM PLATNER IS FACING
Democrats are focused on taking back control of the Senate, and defeating incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) is pivotal to that mission. Party leaders initially backed Gov. Janet Mills (D-ME) in the primary, but her withdrawal from the race led Democrats to stand with scandal-plagued Platner.
Platner has the backing of progressives such as Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), who have stuck with him and his candidacy throughout each controversy ahead of the June 9 primary. Other prominent Democrats, such as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), have taken a weaker stance, instead focusing on ousting Collins to take back the Senate.
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