{"id":2580981,"date":"2026-03-17T16:37:02","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T20:37:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/janet-mills-highlights-graham-platners-comments-about-rape-victims-in-attack-ad\/"},"modified":"2026-03-17T16:39:36","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T20:39:36","slug":"janet-mills-highlights-graham-platners-comments-about-rape-victims-in-attack-ad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/janet-mills-highlights-graham-platners-comments-about-rape-victims-in-attack-ad\/","title":{"rendered":"Janet Mills highlights Graham Platner&#8217;s comments about rape victims in attack ad"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fjanet-mills-highlights-graham-platners-comments-about-rape-victims-in-attack-ad%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2580981&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Gov. Janet Mills released a 30\u2011second attack ad against her Maine Senate challenger, Graham Platner, spotlighting past reddit posts in which Platner made derogatory remarks about rape victims and women&#8217;s behavior. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/graham-how-to-blow-up-the-lefts-terrorist-narrative\/\" title=\"GRAHAM: How to Blow Up The Left\u2019s Terrorist Narrative\">ad features<\/a> four women who appeared in the clip condemning the comments as disgusting and disqualifying, and it references a resurfaced Nazi tattoo controversy tied to Platner. Platner apologized for the posts and said he has been engaging with Mainers to explain his past, while Mills\u2019 campaign marks a shift to negative messaging as the primary race to replace Sen. Susan Collins heats up. The race features broad Democratic endorsements for Mills from figures like Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, and endorsements for Platner from Bernie Sanders and Ruben Gallego. Platner also released a lighter ad in which a Maine woman named Susan Collins endorses him, highlighting the campaign dynamic as both candidates seek to position themselves for the primary.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Janet Mills highlights Graham Platner&rsquo;s comments about rape victims in attack ad: &lsquo;He&rsquo;s a bully&rsquo;<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2534900\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/janet-mills\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"11127\">Janet Mills<\/a> (D-ME) pointed out past derogatory comments made by her <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/senate\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"8765\">Senate<\/a> primary opponent, Graham Platner, in a new attack ad as the two vie for the Democratic nomination in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/maine\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"193\">Maine<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/i\/status\/2033861065289732184\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/i\/status\/2033861065289732184\">30-second ad<\/a>, released by Mills&rsquo;s campaign on Tuesday, highlighted Platner&rsquo;s online remarks about victims of rape and sexual assault.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4494592\/jb-pritzker-fundraising-chop\/\">Does JB Pritzker have the fundraising chops he thinks he does?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4493942\/jesse-jackson-family-endorsement-juliana-stratton-unauthorized\/\">Jesse Jackson family says endorsement of Illinois Democrat was &#8216;unauthorized&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4493175\/john-cornyn-greg-casar-clash-dhs-funding-austin-airport\/\">John Cornyn and Greg Casar clash over DHS funding at Austin airport<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>In one Reddit post from 2013, Platner wrote that women worried about rape should &ldquo;not get so f***ed up they wind up having sex with someone they don&rsquo;t mean to.&rdquo; Besides commenting on women&rsquo;s drinking, he commented in another 2013 Reddit post that women should &ldquo;act like an adult for f***&rsquo;s sake&rdquo; to avoid rape.<\/p>\n<p>Four different women who appeared in the ad strongly condemned the posts, calling them &ldquo;disgusting&rdquo; and &ldquo;disqualifying.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s a bully,&rdquo; one said. &ldquo;This guy gives off a vibe,&rdquo; another chimed in, adding she would not vote for Platner in Maine&rsquo;s primary election on June 9.<\/p>\n<p>Toward the end of the video, an SS skull tattoo is seen on a shirtless Platner. The Nazi tattoo controversy rocked his campaign last fall when the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/will-smith-slammed-for-mocking-bald-man-in-old-footage\/\" title=\"Will Smith Slammed for Mocking Bald Man in Old Footage\">footage resurfaced<\/a>. As the years-old footage plays, the narrator of the ad says, &ldquo;The closer you look, the worse it gets.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The negative ad marks Mills&rsquo;s first attempt to attack Platner over his past. She has primarily focused on what she would do for Maine voters if elected to the Senate, but the latest ad marks a shift in her campaign&rsquo;s messaging. It is possible she will sponsor more attack ads as the primary nears.<\/p>\n<p>In response, Platner reiterated an apology he made to state residents last year.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Back in October, when my past internet comments resurfaced, I read through them,&rdquo; the oyster farmer <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/grahamformaine\/status\/2033923085728981129\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/grahamformaine\/status\/2033923085728981129\">posted on X<\/a>. &ldquo;I was horrified and did not recognize the man on the other side of the posts.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I shared my thoughts and apologies here directly with Mainers. And I&rsquo;ve been talking with Mainers every day since, at town halls across the state. I&rsquo;m eternally grateful for the people of Maine who welcomed me home, made me the man I am today, and have now built this beautiful campaign alongside me.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Platner campaign manager Ben Chin also responded to the ad: &ldquo;This is nothing more than a desperate attempt for relevance from the governor.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Mills is finishing her second term as governor. Her Senate campaign has <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >received high-profile endorsements<\/a> from established Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/chuck-schumer\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"384\">Chuck Schumer<\/a> (D-NY) and Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kirsten-gillibrand\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1171\">Kirsten Gillibrand<\/a> (D-NY).<\/p>\n<p>Although he is at a disadvantage as a political newcomer, Platner has been endorsed by Sens. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/bernie-sanders\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"41\">Bernie Sanders<\/a> (I-VT) and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ruben-gallego\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"10230\">Ruben Gallego<\/a> (D-AZ), both of whom represent the more progressive wing of the Democratic Party. The 41-year-old rookie candidate is also seen by some voters as a younger and more viable alternative to the 78-year-old governor. If elected, Mills plans to serve only one six-year term.<\/p>\n<p>Both contenders are seeking to replace Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/susan-collins\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1302\">Susan Collins<\/a> (R-ME), who decided to run for a sixth term last month. She is 73.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4476791\/graham-platner-senate-endorsement-ruben-gallego-maine-race\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4476791\/graham-platner-senate-endorsement-ruben-gallego-maine-race\/\">SECOND SENATOR ENDORSES GRAHAM PLATNER IN MAINE SENATE BATTLE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Platner&rsquo;s campaign also released an ad on Tuesday, but his video was more positive. It featured a humorous moment in which a Maine woman with the same name as the Republican incumbent put her support behind Platner.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been endorsed by Susan Collins. No, not that Susan Collins,&rdquo; Platner <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/grahamformaine\/status\/2033870836533280807\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/grahamformaine\/status\/2033870836533280807\">said<\/a>. &ldquo;Proud to be endorsed by this Susan Collins and Mainers all across our state ready to send that Susan Collins packing.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mills hits Platner over rape remarks; calls him bully!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2159,"featured_media":2580982,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-collage-9f4ib0a9d-1773774286942-e1773774398978.jpg?1773759988&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[75997,75996,75995],"class_list":["post-2580981","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-attack-ad-2","tag-graham-platner-2","tag-janet-mills-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-collage-9f4ib0a9d-1773774286942-e1773774398978.jpg?1773759988&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2580981","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2159"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2580981"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2580981\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2580985,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2580981\/revisions\/2580985"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2580982"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2580981"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2580981"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2580981"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}