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Top Democrats back Platner despite abuse allegations after demanding accountability in Kavanaugh fight
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Prominent Democrats who once argued misconduct allegations against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh warranted investigation and public scrutiny are taking a different approach after abuse allegations surfaced against Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner.
Multiple former girlfriends of Platner, who is running to unseat Republican Sen. Susan Collins in Maine, described troubling conduct to The New York Times, with one former girlfriend accusing him of physical aggression during their relationship.
Platner has denied the allegations and called them politically motivated.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, one of Platner’s highest-profile supporters, declined to comment on the allegations, while Sen. Chris Coons said to CNN on Thursday he was extending Platner «a measure of grace» while adding, «I think it’s important that anyone who is a candidate to serve in the Senate, or who serves in the Senate, be held accountable for their conduct.»
Graham Platner, Democratic Senate candidate for Maine, and Sen. Bernie Sanders, an Independent from Vermont, attend a Fighting Oligarchy event in Portland, Maine, on May 25, 2026. (Sophie Park/Bloomberg/Getty Images)
GRAHAM PLATNER DENIES DAMNING NEW REPORT ALLEGING ABUSE AS ‘SIMPLY NOT TRUE’
Other top Democrats have either remained silent or continued backing Platner’s campaign despite the allegations.
The response marks a contrast from prior years, when many of the same Democratic lawmakers argued allegations against Republican figures, including Kavanaugh and President Donald Trump, warranted public scrutiny, investigation and accountability.
According to the New York Times report, former girlfriend Lyndsey Fifield alleged that Platner regularly grabbed her by the shoulders, sometimes hard enough to leave marks, and on one occasion yanked her from a taxi by her wrist. Fifield also alleged that during an argument, Platner twisted her arm behind her back, shoved her into a bedroom and held the door shut so she could not leave.
DEM SENATOR BANKROLLING PLATNER’S CAMPAIGN RIPPED FOR DOWNPLAYING ABUSE ALLEGATIONS FROM EX-GIRLFRIEND
«There are some allegations in this piece that are simply not true. Anything alleging physicality, anything alleging I knew what my tattoo was, these are the statements of somebody politically motivated,» Platner told MS Now Thursday. «That is not true.»
«There are some allegations in this piece that are simply not true. Anything alleging physicality, anything alleging I knew what my tattoo was, these are the statements of somebody politically motivated,» Platner told MS Now. «That is not true.» (Sophie Park/Getty Images)
Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., who was scheduled to campaign with Platner Friday, reaffirmed his support.
Before the latest allegations surfaced, reports already had revealed Platner had exchanged sexually explicit messages with multiple women while married. Rather than distancing themselves from the candidate, top Democrats continued to support his Senate bid.
SENATE CANDIDATE GRAHAM PLATNER SENT EXPLICIT TEXTS TO MULTIPLE WOMEN WHILE MARRIED, WIFE SAYS: REPORT
«At the beginning of our marriage, I made mistakes, and Amy held me accountable for them,» Platner said of the messages, referring to his wife, Amy Gertner.
Platner flew to Washington Tuesday to meet with Democratic senators and address the sexting scandal.
«I’m very optimistic we’re going to win Maine,» Gillibrand, who leads the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), said after meeting with Platner.
Democrats reportedly asked Platner during a closed-door meeting whether any other controversies would emerge about his personal life, and Platner said they would not.
The physical abuse allegations did not become public until Thursday.
«He lied to everybody,» Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., told reporters. «He said that there wasn’t any after his Nazi tattoo situation, and now there’s more and more other things.»
«So I assume, you know, it’s like they say, for every ranch you see in Texas, there are 50 that you haven’t seen. So I’m sure there are plenty more ranches in P Hustle’s life.»
Multiple former girlfriends of Platner, who is running to unseat Republican Sen. Susan Collins in Maine, described troubling allegations to The New York Times, with one former girlfriend accusing him of physical aggression during their relationship. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc.)
After Christine Blasey Ford accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault in 2018, Sanders argued the allegation was serious and warranted further investigation before a Senate vote.
«The Senate should not vote on this nomination until that investigation is completed,» Sanders said at the time.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren similarly demanded scrutiny of allegations against Kavanaugh, arguing Ford deserved to be heard and calling for a delay in the confirmation process.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, one of the Senate’s most outspoken advocates on sexual misconduct issues, also backed Ford’s allegations being fully examined during the confirmation fight. Gillibrand said at the time that Ford’s account raised serious concerns about Kavanaugh’s fitness for a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer likewise called for Kavanaugh’s confirmation process to be delayed after Ford’s allegations became public, arguing the claims warranted additional scrutiny before the Senate proceeded with a vote.
Schumer repeatedly sidestepped questions about the sexting controversy after meeting with Platner in Washington, responding, «We’re going to beat Susan Collins and take back the Senate.» When pressed further, Schumer declined to elaborate and asked reporters, «Any other subject?»
Fox News Digital has reached out to the above Democratic senators and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee for comment on the latest allegations and none replied before publication of this story. Platner’s campaign also did not return a request for additional comment.
Not all progressives have stood by Platner.
Cheyenne Hunt, leader of the youth advocacy group Gen Z For Change, withdrew her endorsement of Platner after the allegations became public.
Hunt, who previously organized against former Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., over sexual assault allegations, said political considerations should not outweigh accountability.
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«We have the responsibility to do what is right even when it’s politically inconvenient,» Hunt said in a video posted to social media. «Women cannot be an acceptable sacrifice for the next election.»
Platner has maintained that he did not know the tattoo resembled the Nazi-linked Totenkopf symbol until reporters began scrutinizing it during his Senate campaign in 2025.
Fifield, who dated Platner from 2013 to 2015, told The New York Times that Platner referred to the tattoo as «my Totenkopf» and was aware of its meaning years earlier. Platner has denied that claim.
chuck schumer, bernie sanders, john fetterman, kirsten gillibrand, senate elections
INTERNACIONAL
New York gubernatorial candidate urges 9/11 attendees to turn away from Mamdani during ceremony
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Bruce Blakeman, the Republican candidate in New York’s gubernatorial race, said Wednesday that attendees at this year’s Sept. 11 memorial ceremony should turn their backs on New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani if he attends.
«I would equate this to a wake. You don’t go to a wake if you’re not welcome,» Blakeman, whose nephew was killed in the South Tower on Sept. 11, 2001, and who currently serves as Nassau County executive, told reporters.
«I think it’s completely appropriate if family members ask him not to come, but if he does come, I think there’s a respectful and peaceful way to protest that and I would suggest that people turn their back on the mayor,» he said.
FIREFIGHTER BROTHER OF 9/11 VICTIM INCENSED BY ‘RADICAL’ MUSLIMS WINNING KEY DEM PRIMARIES
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, right, and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Blakeman called for a silent protest if Mamdani attends this year’s Sept. 11 memorial ceremony. (Steve Pfost/Newsday RM via Getty Images; Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Blakeman argued Mamdani’s refusal to condemn the phrase «globalize the intifada» should disqualify him from attending the ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks.
«He’s not welcome there because he has yet to say anything in opposition to the global intifada. As a matter of fact, it seems like he supports that phrase, which is part of the reason why we had the tragedy we had on 9/11,» Blakeman said.
Mamdani’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
The mayor has said he still plans to attend the ceremony.
9/11 FAMILIES PUSH TO BAN MAMDANI FROM 25TH ANNIVERSARY REMEMBRANCE OVER ‘HOSTILE’ RECORD
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani during an announcement on municipal grocery stores at a Campaign for Hunger community food distribution center in Brooklyn on July 27, 2026. (Adam Gray/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
«I will proudly honor the families, the survivors, the first responders forever impacted by that horrific terror attack by standing alongside them at this year’s 9/11 commemoration — reaffirming that we will never forget the solemn day…» Mamdani said last week.
His comments came after relatives of Sept. 11 victims launched a petition urging the National September 11 Memorial & Museum to bar Mamdani from attending the ceremony in Lower Manhattan.
«Concerns have been raised about Mr. Mamdani’s public positions, associations, and responses to rhetoric that many perceive as hostile to these shared values,» the Change.org petition states.
«Given these concerns, we respectfully ask that the organizers carefully consider whether Mr. Mamdani’s participation would align with the intention of the ceremony and the expectations of the families most directly affected by the tragedy.»
JEWISH LEADERS FAULT MAMDANI RHETORIC AS UPPER WEST SIDE STABBING, HATE CRIME PROBE CONTINUES
Bruce Blakeman, Nassau County executive and Republican candidate for New York governor, who is running to unseat Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul and has secured President Donald Trump’s endorsement. (Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg/Getty Images)
A spokesperson for the 9/11 Memorial & Museum previously told Fox News Digital that the organization has «intentionally worked to keep the commemoration free of politics because remembering those we lost on 9/11 should never be a partisan issue.»
«Government officials from across the political spectrum, including every sitting president, governor, and mayor since 9/11, have attended the ceremony simply to bear witness — they do not deliver remarks and are asked to remain in a designated area,» the spokesperson added.
Former New York Gov. George Pataki was also asked Wednesday whether Mamdani should attend the ceremony.
«It’s my nature to be inclusive, and that is my instinct, but Sept. 11 is different. So, I may have comments on that,» Pataki said, according to the New York Post.
The 9/11 Memorial in the financial district of Lower Manhattan, New York at the site of World Trade Center. (iStock)
Fox News Digital’s Charles Creitz contributed to this report.
zohran mamdani, new york city, politics, gubernatorial, september 11
INTERNACIONAL
La OMS afirmó que el brote de ébola en África está superando la capacidad de respuesta para combatirlo
El director general de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, señaló que el brote de ébola se expande a un ritmo superior a los esfuerzos de control, según advirtió durante una visita a la República Democrática del Congo (RDC). Esta situación crítica se suma a que parte del personal sanitario en el país está en huelga por falta de pago.
Casi tres meses después del inicio del brote, el número de nuevos casos se duplica en algunos puntos críticos, señaló Tedros tras reunirse con autoridades en Kinshasa, capital de RDC. Es la segunda vez que el titular de la OMS visita el país desde que se declaró la aparición de la enfermedad a mediados de mayo.
“Todos coincidimos en que debemos aumentar urgentemente y de manera masiva los esfuerzos en todos los pilares de la respuesta y entre todos los socios”, afirmó Tedros.
Según el Ministerio de Salud de RDC, hasta este jueves se registraron 3.973 casos confirmados y 1.801 muertes. En la provincia de Ituri, epicentro del brote, familias reportan que la huelga de trabajadores sanitarios agravó la falta de acceso a la atención médica en una zona ya afectada por el conflicto armado y la lejanía, cerca de las fronteras con Sudán del Sur, Uganda y Ruanda.
Algunos empleados comenzaron a recibir pagos la última semana por su trabajo desde el inicio de la emergencia, pero reclaman mejoras salariales. Anicet Baluku, residente de Bunia, capital de Ituri, responsabilizó a la huelga de la muerte de sus dos hermanos por ébola. “Urgimos a las autoridades a encontrar una solución rápida para evitar que otras familias sufran la misma tragedia”, declaró a The Associated Press.
Tedros instó a tomar medidas que permitan llegar a todas las localidades afectadas, fortalecer la coordinación bajo el liderazgo del gobierno y proteger a los trabajadores de la salud. “Ante todo, las comunidades deben estar en el centro de la respuesta y ser dueñas de ella”, afirmó. “No podemos detener el ébola sin su confianza, liderazgo y colaboración”.
El actual brote superó en velocidad de transmisión a todos los anteriores y es el segundo más grande registrado, solo superado por el brote de África Occidental entre 2014 y 2016, que alcanzó más de 28.000 casos y más de 11.000 muertes.
El virus Bundibugyo, responsable de este brote, no cuenta con tratamiento ni vacuna aprobados. Las autoridades consideran que el brote se originó en una zona remota antes de su declaración oficial el 15 de mayo.
Médicos Sin Fronteras advirtió que el brote continúa “propagándose a un ritmo alarmante y sin precedentes”. La organización señaló que, aunque la respuesta se está ampliando, aún no alcanza a las comunidades con suficiente rapidez para interrumpir las cadenas de transmisión.
Por su parte, el Departamento de Estado de Estados Unidos anunció una asignación adicional de 242 millones de dólares para la respuesta inmediata al brote de ébola en la región, así como para medidas de preparación y asistencia humanitaria asociadas. Esta financiación eleva el total de la asistencia directa estadounidense a más de 512 millones de dólares.
La directora de los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades de África, Jean Kaseya, alertó durante una visita a Bunia que el rastreo de contactos no está funcionando de manera efectiva. Entre el 60% y el 70% de los nuevos casos no corresponden a personas que estaban siendo monitoreadas tras haber estado expuestas a pacientes infectados.
La detección tardía de casos ha sido un factor determinante en la tasa de mortalidad del 45%, informaron las autoridades. El Ministerio de Salud reportó que, de los 77 casos notificados en las últimas 24 horas, 44 fueron fatales. Actualmente, al menos 717 pacientes permanecen aislados y 749 han logrado recuperarse.
La directora de los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades de África, Jean Kaseya, señaló que el organismo coordina los esfuerzos con los equipos de respuesta en torno a la detección temprana, el rastreo de contactos más eficaz, el acceso rápido a atención de calidad y una mayor participación comunitaria.
(Con información de Associated Press)
General Health,Medicines,Africa,Health / Medicine
Senate panel moves to vote on Fauci contempt resolution
Fox News correspondent Lucas Tomlinson reports on a Senate panel’s upcoming vote to hold former NIAID Director Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress. The resolution follows a contentious COVID-19 hearing where Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment rights more than one hundred times.
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Fox News Digital has confirmed that a key investigative panel in the Senate has obtained Dr. Anthony Fauci’s pandemic-era cellphone.
The cellphone was transferred from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to the Senate Homeland Security Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations chaired by Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis.
A spokesperson for the senator told Fox News Digital the subcommittee «obtained a copy of Dr. Fauci’s iPhone that was used during his time at HHS.»
Whether the panel has access to the phone remains unclear.
RAND PAUL SEEKS CONTEMPT CHARGES AFTER FAUCI INVOKES FIFTH AMENDMENT MORE THAN 100 TIMES
Anthony Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and medical advisor to several U.S. presidents, testifies under subpoena about his role in the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic at a U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., July 29, 2026. (Reuters/Nathan Howard)
The committee’s procurement of the phone, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, comes as the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee readies to decide whether to hold Fauci in contempt of Congress. It also follows the HHS’ move to dump over 1,000 pages of Fauci’s personal diary to the panel just days before the blockbuster hearing.
The hearing, slated for Thursday morning, comes after the panel’s chair, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., subpoenaed Fauci to testify on his alleged role in funding «risky» gain-of-function research in Wuhan, China, where the COVID-19 virus originated.
A source close to Paul’s office told Fox News Digital that the lawmaker is also in possession of the phone.
Last week’s testimony was meant to serve as the climatic duel between Fauci and Paul, who has demanded Fauci be thrown into prison for his role in the nation’s pandemic policy and alleged lies to Congress.
But it didn’t turn out that way.
TOP 5 MOMENTS FROM FAUCI’S HEARING: PAUL BOOTS LAWYER, MORENO ERUPTS AS CONTEMPT VOTE LOOMS
Fauci, on advice from his lawyers, opted to plead the Fifth Amendment out of concern about self-incrimination before a panel that he charged was designed to ensnare him.
«Although it pains me to do so because of the respect I have for the legislative branch of government and my decades-long record of cooperating with Congress under the advice of my attorneys, I will invoke my right under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution to refrain from answering your questions,» Fauci said.
What ensued was Republicans on the panel peppering Fauci with questions probing his involvement in an alleged lab leak that led to the virus’ rapid spread to what day of the week it was. Democrats charged that his decision to activate his constitutional rights was the right call given Paul and his colleagues’ determination to catch him in a lie.
WATCH: RAND PAUL SAYS THERE’S ONE THING AMERICANS HAVE NEVER HEARD FROM FAUCI
Ranking member Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., speaks as U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Linda Fagan testifies at a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Investigations hearing on Capitol Hill June 11, 2024, in Washington, D.C. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
And it culminated in Paul vowing that Fauci would face consequences for declining to comment and questioning whether his pardon from former President Joe Biden could protect him.
«I think there’s another legal question that the courts may have to decide upon, and that is whether or not a presidential pardon offers you complete immunity,» Paul said at the time.
Fox News Digital did not immediately receive comment from HHS on Fauci’s pandemic-era iPhone.
politics, senate elections, anthony fauci, rand paul, hearings, iphone
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