{"id":2611438,"date":"2026-06-06T11:21:02","date_gmt":"2026-06-06T15:21:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nyt-report-on-graham-platner-is-journalistic-malfeasance-joe-concha\/"},"modified":"2026-06-06T11:22:52","modified_gmt":"2026-06-06T15:22:52","slug":"nyt-report-on-graham-platner-is-journalistic-malfeasance-joe-concha","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nyt-report-on-graham-platner-is-journalistic-malfeasance-joe-concha\/","title":{"rendered":"NYT report on Graham Platner is &#8216;journalistic malfeasance&#8217;: Joe Concha"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/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%2Fnyt-report-on-graham-platner-is-journalistic-malfeasance-joe-concha%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=2611438&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>Washington Examiner columnist Joe Concha criticized the *New York Times* for its reporting on Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner,arguing the paper violated journalistic standards by not emphasizing the allegations promptly. he said the article waited many paragraphs before getting to the core claims and called the approach \u201cjournalistic malfeasance,\u201d even characterizing it as a \u201ccatch and kill\u201d pattern.  <\/p>\n<p>concha also agreed with critic Lyndsey Fifield, one of the women described in the Times report, who said her account was downplayed and that other women\u2019s stories-perhaps including allegations of sexual assault-were left out. Fifield alleged the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-york-times-reporter-donald-mcneil-says-paper-twisted-his-arm-into-resigning\/\" title=\"New York ...er Donald McNeil Says ... Twisted His Arm Into Resigning\">paper twisted<\/a> her disclosure and questioned why her <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-president-trump-gives-pardons-to-73-individuals-and-commutes-another-70-sentences-steve-bannon-is-included\/\" title=\"BREAKING: President Trump Gives Pardons to 73 Individuals and Commutes Another 70 Sentences \u2013 Steve Bannon Is Included\">work history<\/a> received more attention than other accusations.  <\/p>\n<p>Concha further argued that Democrats should not keep backing Platner in Maine\u2019s June 9 primary,noting he faces Republican Sen. Susan Collins and warning that continuing support would amount to compromising integrity.  <\/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<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Washington Examiner <\/em>columnist <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/joe-concha\/\">Joe Concha<\/a> bashed the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/nyt\/\"><em>New York Times<\/em><\/a><em> <\/em>for its <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/06\/04\/us\/politics\/platner-maine-senate-girlfriends-relationships.html\">report<\/a> on <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/maine\/\">Maine<\/a> Senate candidate <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/graham-platner\/\">Graham Platner,<\/a> saying the paper engaged in misconduct. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou have to go not one, not two, not 10, not 20, 22 paragraphs in before you get to the allegations,\u201d Concha said on Fox News\u2019s <em>America Reports <\/em>on Friday.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4591522\/maha-movement-2026-midterm-elections\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>MAHA flexes political might ahead of midterm elections<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4597479\/democrats-working-class-resumes\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Democrats are running on working-class r\u00e9sum\u00e9s. Republicans question the credentials<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4597629\/platner-bar-harbor-rally-controversies-khanna\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Platner shrugs off mounting controversies as \u2018politically motivated\u2019 and \u2018false\u2019 at rally<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Concha said it\u2019s \u201cjournalistic malfeasance\u201d to bury the lede of the article, and not show these serious allegations until later in the report.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The report, released Thursday, details disturbing accounts from several of Platner\u2019s ex-girlfriends. <\/p>\n<div style=\"display: inline-block; width: 100%; max-width: 640px; min-height: 180px; max-height: 360px; overflow: hidden;\">\n<div style=\"position: relative; width: 100%; padding-top: 56.25%;\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/share.grabien.com\/share?id=3562642&#038;userid=11311&#038;usertype=user&#038;loginid=10455&#038;playercolor=%23000000&#038;playersize=auto&#038;code=b94c844e084acf6bac469fd3b594eb22\" style=\"position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: 0px;\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the women in the report, Lyndsey Fifield, recalled Platner\u2019s unsettling behavior while they were dating, and said he was \u201ccavalierly contemptuous of women\u2019s emotions, of our \u2018weakness.&#8217;\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fifield fired back at the <em>New York Times<\/em> in an <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/lyndseyfifield\/status\/2062808677451481364\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/lyndseyfifield\/status\/2062808677451481364\">X post <\/a>on Friday for downplaying the story. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She said <em>New York Times<\/em> journalists <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4596470\/platner-accuser-lyndsey-fifield-new-york-times-journalists-twisted-story-help-campaign\/\">\u201ctwisted this into a gift to the Platner campaign<\/a>. Violating the trust of his victims. Shattering the trust I placed in them with the most vulnerable story of my life.\u201d <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhere are the stories from the other women? Where are their accusations of sexual assault? Why am I the focus? Why are there 11 paragraphs dedicated to detailing my work history (more than has been published about Graham\u2019s by far)? Why does it say \u2018nobody could corroborate\u2019 when I offered them sources that COULD corroborate?\u201d Fifield asked.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Anyone who has ever extracted themselves from a relationship with a narcissistic abuser knows it isn\u2019t clean or easy. <\/p>\n<p>I cringe remembering how many times I tried to play the \u201ccool girl\u201d or fawn in response to what was clearly abusive, coercively controlling behavior by Graham.\u2026<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Lyndsey Fifield (@lyndseyfifield) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/lyndseyfifield\/status\/2062808677451481364?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 5, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I bucked all advice from my friends (and resisted my conservative bias) and decided to fully trust the Times journalists.<\/p>\n<p>As they left my home they asked that I not talk to any other outlets and I insisted then and repeatedly over the following weeks that I would keep my word\u2026<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Lyndsey Fifield (@lyndseyfifield) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/lyndseyfifield\/status\/2062808679829704815?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 5, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cClassic catch and kill scenario here from the alleged paper of record, the <em>New York Times,<\/em>\u201d Concha said. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He argued that everything that Fifield brought to the table should have been front and center in the paper, calling it \u201cjournalism 101 in high school kind of stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Concha also agreed with Fifield\u2019s point that many other women were not included in the piece.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe <em>New York Times<\/em> only half put the story out there instead of going full bore on this one,\u201d Concha said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Concha also criticized Democrats for continuing to back Platner in Maine\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/top-republican-leader-slams-marjorie-taylor-greene-a-cancer-for-the-republican-party\/\" title=\"Top Republican Leader Slams Marjorie Taylor Greene: A \u2018Cancer For The Republican Party\u2019\">primary election<\/a>, where he faces current Republican Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/susan-collins\/\">Susan Collins<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He said <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democrats\/\">Democrats<\/a> \u201cwant this to blow over like so many news cycles do, and hopefully Graham Platner can get over the finish line.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If Platner wins the Senate seat, it could return control of the Senate to Democrats.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIs it all worth it to put your integrity aside here, to <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >put basic common decency<\/a> aside, to make sure that this man, who needs more of a shrink than a Senate seat, wins this seat?\u201d Concha asked.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4596468\/republicans-pour-3-million-susan-collins-campaign-graham-platner-support-stalls\/\"><strong>BLOOD IN THE WATER: REPUBLICANS POUR $3 MILLION INTO SUSAN COLLINS CAMPAIGN AS GRAHAM PLATNER\u2019S SUPPORT STALLS AFTER SCANDALS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf you want to die on this hill as Democrats, you have lost the moral high ground \u2014 if you thought you ever had it \u2014 forever, if you\u2019re going to back somebody like this.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Maine primary <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/elections\/\">election<\/a> will be held on June 9.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Joe Concha criticized the NYT\u2019s Flatner story, alleging misconduct<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4226,"featured_media":2611439,"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\/06\/platner2.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[65649,52093,80935,36546,15823],"class_list":["post-2611438","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-graham-platner","tag-joe-concha","tag-journalistic-malfeasance","tag-media-controversy","tag-nyt"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/platner2.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2611438","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\/4226"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2611438"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2611438\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2611442,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2611438\/revisions\/2611442"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2611439"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2611438"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2611438"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2611438"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}