{"id":2611473,"date":"2026-06-06T13:23:02","date_gmt":"2026-06-06T17:23:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-think-platner-can-say-hes-sorry-and-move-past-this-byron-york\/"},"modified":"2026-06-06T13:24:54","modified_gmt":"2026-06-06T17:24:54","slug":"democrats-think-platner-can-say-hes-sorry-and-move-past-this-byron-york","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-think-platner-can-say-hes-sorry-and-move-past-this-byron-york\/","title":{"rendered":"Democrats think Platner can &#8216;say he&#8217;s sorry and move past this&#8217;: Byron York"},"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\">26<\/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%2Fdemocrats-think-platner-can-say-hes-sorry-and-move-past-this-byron-york%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=2611473&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 chief political correspondent byron York criticized Democrats for staying supportive of Maine Senate candidate graham Platner after a New York Times report described <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >disturbing accounts<\/a> from several of Platner\u2019s former girlfriends. York argued that the women alleged assault and abuse (even without physicality and with no one underage), and suggested Democrats may be trying to downplay the issue by framing it as something Platner can \u201capologize\u201d away.<\/p>\n<p>The article also highlights rebuttals from one ex-girlfriend, Lyndsey Fifield. She saeid the Times failed to mention that she had previously told friends that Platner had been abusive, and accused the interview process of being a \u201cset-up\u201d that violated the trust of victims. York further pointed to the lack of direct reporting from the women themselves regarding certain allegations, questioning details such as how many peopel were involved and how the alleged behavior or texts occurred.<\/p>\n<p>The piece notes the New York Times story ran days before Maine\u2019s primary and references another recent controversy <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mills-hints-at-resurrecting-maine-senate-bid-amid-platner-scandals\/\" title=\"Mills hints at resurrecting Maine ... bid amid Platner scandals\">involving sexually explicit texts<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/widow-of-american-sniper-chris-kyle-hits-back-against-dem-senate-candidate-for-making-things-up\/\" title=\"Widow of &#039;American Sniper&#039; Chris Kyle Hits Back Against Dem ... Candidate for &#039;Making Things Up&#039;\">platner allegedly<\/a> sent to women.York concluded that more information could emerge before the primary, and added that if Platner wins, it could shift Senate control back toward Democrats-though the candidate faces Republican Sen. Susan Collins.  <\/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> chief political correspondent <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/byron-york\/\">Byron York<\/a> slammed <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democrats\/\">Democrats<\/a> for their continued support of <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> after a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/nyt\/\"><em>New York Times<\/em><\/a>  report detailed disturbing accounts from several of Platner\u2019s ex-girlfriends. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI think the Democrats, and Platner, are trying to draw a line here. And the line here is assault and abuse, no physicality, which [Lyndsey Fifield, one of Platner\u2019s ex-girlfriends] said, and nobody underage. And if they can\u2019t prove he did any of that, then it\u2019s ok. He\u2019ll just say he\u2019s sorry and move past this. But I don\u2019t think that\u2019s going to work,\u201d York said on Fox News\u2019s <em>Special Report With Bret Baier <\/em>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\/entertainment\/4597863\/nyt-report-graham-platner-joe-concha\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>NYT report on Graham Platner is \u2018journalistic malfeasance\u2019: Joe Concha<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nyt-report-on-graham-platner-is-journalistic-malfeasance-joe-concha\/\" title=\"NYT ... on ... is &#039;journalistic malfeasance&#039;: Joe Concha\">working-class r\u00e9sum\u00e9s<\/a>. Republicans question the credentials<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/06\/04\/us\/politics\/platner-maine-senate-girlfriends-relationships.html\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/06\/04\/us\/politics\/platner-maine-senate-girlfriends-relationships.html\">according to the report<\/a>. <\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\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\">X post<\/a> on Friday for downplaying the story.<\/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=3562720&#038;userid=11311&#038;usertype=user&#038;loginid=10455&#038;playercolor=%23000000&#038;playersize=auto&#038;code=980f0c2a901ab4bfaa33000a9b5c9cc3\" style=\"position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: 0px;\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe Times also failed to include any mention that I DID confide in multiple friends through the years that Graham had been abusive \u2014 long before he was running for office. Those friends confirm they told the Times so,\u201d Fifield said in one post.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt dawned on me that this really was a set-up all along. The journalists I trusted who convinced me to share a story I never wanted to tell methodically delayed and twisted this into a gift to the Platner campaign. Violating the trust of his victims,\u201d another Fifield post said.<\/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, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/guy-benson-rips-nyt-over-platner-story-exs-claims-were-selectively-reported\/\" title=\"Guy Benson rips NYT over Platner ...: Ex\u2019s claims were selectively ...ed\">coercively controlling behavior<\/a> 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\">The report was published by the <em>New York Times <\/em>on Thursday, just days before the Maine <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/primaries\/\">primary<\/a>. Last week, another scandal involving Platner arose, involving <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4588537\/platner-wife-sexually-explicit-texts-aide\/\">sexually explicit texts<\/a> he sent to women.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">York noted that there have been no reports from the women themselves to whom Platner allegedly sent the messages. He questioned the lack of information surrounding the women, saying it remains unclear how many are involved and how the texts were sent.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDid they want to receive these texts? Most people don\u2019t,\u201d York said.<\/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\">If Platner wins the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/senate\/\">Senate<\/a> seat, it could return control of the Senate to Democrats. 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\">\u201cThere\u2019s a lot more to be learned, and it\u2019s not all going to be learned by Tuesday when the primary hits,\u201d York said. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Byron York criticizes Democrats\u2019 support of Maine candidate Graham Platner amid NYT abuse allegations<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4226,"featured_media":2611474,"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\/platner3.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[37928,3685,65502,32171,35762],"class_list":["post-2611473","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-byron-york","tag-democrats","tag-platner","tag-political-commentary","tag-us-elections"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/platner3.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2611473","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=2611473"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2611473\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2611477,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2611473\/revisions\/2611477"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2611474"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2611473"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2611473"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2611473"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}