BAR HARBOR, Maine – Graham Platner’s past relationships were «toxic and volatile,» Rep. Ro Khanna of California says of the Senate Democratic candidate aiming to unseat longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins in one of this year’s most crucial ballot box showdowns.

But Khanna, a progressive leader from California who along with Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont is backing Platner, argued in a Fox News Digital interview on Friday night that Platner is «taking accountability» for his past and «we need that redemption in this country.»

Platner, the military combat veteran and oyster farmer who is considered the Democrats’ presumptive nominee ahead of Tuesday’s primary in Maine, has been playing defense amid multiple controversies, ranging from inflammatory online comments made on Reddit, a well-publicized and now-covered up tattoo on his chest that resembled a Nazi symbol, to new allegations this week from ex-girlfriends of a history of rape fantasies, heavy drinking and violent episodes.

The candidate is arguably facing the roughest stretch to date of his campaign against Collins, in a race that is one of a handful across the country which will decide if the Republicans hold on to their slim Senate majority in this year’s midterm elections.

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Collins, returning to Maine on Friday after a busy week on Capitol Hill where she reached a milestone by casting her 10,000th consecutive vote in the Senate, was asked by reporters about the latest allegations facing Platner.

«The allegations in the latest story are troubling,» Collins responded. «And I believe that Graham Platner has a lot of questions to answer.»

Collins, a moderate Republican who at times votes against President Donald Trump’s agenda, is running for a sixth six-year term in the Senate in left-leaning Maine.

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Speaking with Fox News Digital ahead of a rally with Platner, progressive gubernatorial candidate Troy Jackson and congressional contender Matt Dunlap, which was organized by Khanna, the congressman was asked if he was concerned the latest allegations could sink Platner’s campaign and hurt Democrats’ hopes of winning back the Senate.

«I’m more concerned about making it clear that we’re opposed to misogyny, those relationships were toxic and volatile, there’s no excuse for that,» Khanna said. «I talked to Graham and he says he was at a very dark period, he had come back from two tours of duty in Iraq as an infantry man seeing violence and death. That doesn’t excuse it.»

But Khanna added that Platner said «he really grew as a person when he came back to Maine and he was an oyster farmer and he found peace and he is ashamed of that period. To me that suggests someone taking accountability and improving their lives and we need that redemption in this country. And I agree with a lot of his economic policies, that we should be taxing the billionaires, we should be focusing on the working class.»

‘MAINE, YOU HAVE MY BACK’ – PLATNER BLASTS NEW ALLEGATIONS AS ‘FALSE ACCUSATIONS’ AS HE THANKS SUPPORTERS

After Christine Blasey Ford accused then-Supreme Court justice nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault in 2018, Khanna tweeted, «I stand with Dr. Christine Blasey Ford. Brett Kavanaugh is not fit to sit on the Supreme Court. #BelieveSurvivors.»

Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California speaks with Fox News Digital ahead of a rally that he organized which included Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner, in Bar Harbor, Maine on June 5, 2026. (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News)

Back on home turf on Friday, the rally was held in this resort town next to Acadia National Park that is close to Platner’s hometown of Sullivan, Maine, the candidate thanked a large crowd of supporters for having his back and charged the incoming fire he’s facing is «politically motivated.»

«When hurtful things I said on the internet a decade ago came out into the public as I shared my personal journey through PTSD and darkness of recovery and accountability and growth. Maine had my back,» Platner said at a rally. «Now, as every single piece of that past and journey gets dug up, litigated, and weaponized, you have my back. And when politically motivated, serious and false, false accusations are made against me. Maine, you have my back.»

Platner, who has acknowledged his battle with post-traumatic stress disorder from his multiple tours of duty in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, apologized for his controversial Reddit posts after they made headlines last fall soon after he launched his Senate campaign.

And Platner has said he got the skull and crossbones tattoo in 2007 while drinking with fellow Marines stationed in Croatia. He said that he covered up the tattoo with a new design after learning last year that it resembled a Nazi symbol. But new allegations raise questions about Platner’s timeline regarding knowledge of the tattoo.

‘HE HATED WOMEN’: EXPLOSIVE ABUSE, NEW NAZI TATTOO ALLEGATIONS FROM EXES ROCK PLATNER’S CAMPAIGN

Platner is facing plenty of incoming political fire from Republican groups. A super PAC aligned with Collins has been blasting Platner, running ads spotlighting his multiple controversies.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), in a social media post following Friday night’s rally, took aim at Platner, charging he’s «a fraud»

«He’s preaching about living a small but decent life growing up in Maine. The truth? Graham Platner is an elitist whose parents sent him to boarding school in Connecticut and bought him a house,» the NRSC wrote.

And the Republican National Committee (RNC) also targeted Platner.

«Graham Platner says his violent and erratic past is being «weaponized» against him. Platner said he would rape someone to show his dominance and «rape was about power,» the RNC research team wrote on X, as it pointed to new allegations against the candidate.

Platner, as he runs for the Senate, is pushing an economically populist agenda as he takes aim at corporate influences and advocates for the working class.

«I agree with a lot of his economic policies, that we should be taxing the billionaires, we should be focusing on the working class,» Khanna told Fox News Digital.

Graham Platner, the Democrats’ presumptive Senate nominee in Maine, holds an energy event in Ellsworth, Maine on Monday May 11, 2026. (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News)

Platner is considered the all-but-certain Democratic nominee after two-term Gov. Janet Mills, who was backed by longtime Senate Democratic Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer and the Democratic Party establishment, dropped out of the race earlier this spring after significantly trailing Platner in fundraising and polling.

Mills, in a recent interview, noted that her name remains on the ballot. And a source in her wider political orbit confirmed to Fox News that the governor is receiving calls urging her to get back in the race amid Platner’s controversies. But there’s no active campaign effort on behalf of Mills.

Asked about Mills, Khanna told Fox News Digital: «the great thing about democracy, you can run full steam ahead, you can kind of run ambiguously like Janet Mills, you can keep your name on that campaign. That’s why I love American democracy.»

But he predicted that «Platner is going to come out victorious. And we need to unite and realize that the goal is defeating Susan Collins. And everyone from Schumer to Sanders is unified around that goal.

Platner’s campaign said that more than 600 people attended the rally. And they touted that they had raked in $200,000 in fundraising the past 24 hours, which they said was their strongest fundraising day since Mills suspended her campaign.

WATCH: Maine residents weigh in on Platner amid mounting controversies:

Maine voters that Fox News Digital spoke with ahead of the rally were divided on whether Platner’s controversies will impact their opinions of the candidate.

Jeff from Waterboro, Maine, said, «it’s not a good situation» as he pointed to Platner. «I think it’s somebody who shouldn’t’ be in the mix. I am a conservative but he’s just got so much damage, if the Democrats want to have a winner, they’re going to have to find somebody else. He’s not the guy. It’s just too much.»

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Ellen from Acton, Maine, who said she is a registered Republican, said, «is he a perfect person? Heck no.»

But she added, «I think he will go in and do a good job.»

El Gobierno de Honduras y las organizaciones magisteriales lograron acuerdos salariales y laborales para el magisterio nacional tras un proceso de diálogo que, según informó la Presidencia de Honduras, impactará directamente en la calidad educativa y en las condiciones de los docentes. Estos entendimientos incluyen incrementos al salario base y ajustes complementarios para diferentes categorías, así como el compromiso de reforzar la dotación de recursos escolares en todo el país.

De acuerdo con la información oficial, uno de los puntos centrales del acuerdo contempla un aumento de 1,500 lempiras (USD 56.24)al salario base para los docentes. A este monto se suman 300 lempiras (USD 11.25) adicionales por calificación académica, 100 lempiras (USD 3.75) por cada quinquenio de servicio, 100 lempiras por asumir cargos directivos y 100 lempiras para quienes trabajan en zonas fronterizas. Además, los maestros recibirán un ajuste de 1,500 lempiras por concepto de zonaje, de acuerdo con las especificaciones de la normativa vigente.

La administración del presidente Nasry Asfura detalló que el incremento salarial comenzará a reflejarse en la planilla correspondiente al mes de junio, mientras que el pago retroactivo correspondiente a mayo será acreditado en septiembre. Asimismo, la proyección del décimo cuarto mes, que incorporará el ajuste salarial, quedará registrada en la planilla de julio, según precisó la Presidencia de Honduras.

El Gobierno destacó que este acuerdo forma parte de una estrategia más amplia para fortalecer el sistema educativo. El presidente hondureño aseguró en su declaración pública: “Se ha llegado a una revisión justa en el tema salarial, balanceado, con responsabilidad para nuestro ejercicio fiscal y acorde a las necesidades, a los cumplimientos que debemos de hacer con toda seriedad ante el pueblo hondureño. Y hoy aquí está el resultado».

Según Asfura, existe un compromiso compartido entre las seis instituciones del magisterio y el gobierno central para mejorar la calidad educativa. El mandatario señaló que esta colaboración incluye la entrega de materiales, la reparación de escuelas y la implementación de un programa que busca dotar de conectividad a unas ocho mil instituciones educativas. Destacó que el objetivo es trabajar de manera conjunta para lograr los mejores resultados en beneficio de la educación.

Como parte de los compromisos, el Gobierno continuará con la entrega de libros de texto de calidad para los niños del sistema educativo, en el marco del programa nacional impulsado por el Ejecutivo También se mantiene la meta de ampliar la conectividad en aproximadamente ocho mil escuelas y avanzar en la reparación de la infraestructura educativa. Estos esfuerzos buscan mejorar las condiciones de aprendizaje y docencia en todo el país.

La reacción de las organizaciones magisteriales fue la suspensión de asambleas informativas y la reanudación de las actividades académicas en los centros educativos, de acuerdo con la comunicación oficial. Las autoridades valoraron el retorno a la normalidad como un paso relevante para el desarrollo del ciclo escolar y reiteraron el llamado al diálogo permanente.

La Presidencia de Honduras resaltó que estos acuerdos se lograron gracias a la participación activa de las seis instituciones que integran el magisterio y del Gobierno central, en un contexto de respeto mutuo y búsqueda de soluciones responsables para el fortalecimiento del sistema educativo.

A senior House Democrat is joining the growing chorus of critics questioning Senate candidate Graham Platner’s claim that he was unaware of his tattoo’s Nazi origins.

«There’s no way he didn’t know what the tattoo was,» Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Ill., said Friday in remarks reported by Punchbowl News. «Own it and move on.»

«He’s not willing to do that,» Schneider, the chairman of House Democrats’ largest caucus, lamented.

Schneider’s comments make him one of the most high-profile Democrats to criticize the Maine Senate hopeful, who has also faced mounting scrutiny over sending sexually-explicit messages to other women while newly married, a decades-long history of offensive social media posts and alleged abuse in previous romantic relationships.

DEMOCRAT CONGRESSMAN SLAMS GRAHAM PLATNER’S NAZI-LINKED TATTOO AS ‘DISQUALIFYING’

Platner, a far-left populist, is vying to unseat Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, in one of the most hotly contested races of November’s midterm elections. He is Maine Democrats’ presumptive nominee, though some party insiders have expressed doubts about the viability of his candidacy amid a string of scandals.

Schneider’s public criticism came after The New York Times reported Thursday that several of Platner’s ex-girlfriends said the Senate hopeful knew about his tattoo’s Nazi-linked design.

One of the women, Lyndsey Fifield, told The Times that Platner taught her the words behind the black skull-and-crossbones tattoo, referring to it as «my Totenkopf.»

«He would joke about it being a Nazi tattoo,» Fifield said, adding that Platner said he chose the tattoo because of his belief that his unit shared similarities to the Nazi SS paramilitary forces.

Platner vigorously denied Fifield’s account during an interview with MS NOW’s Chris Hayes on Thursday. But he struggled to answer when pressed about how Fifield sent a text to friends saying he had a Nazi-linked tattoo in August 2025, when he first publicly disclosed it two months later during an October podcast episode of «Pod Save America.» 

«How does she know it’s a Nazi tattoo in August of last year, and you don’t know it’s a Nazi tattoo in August of last year?» Hayes asked Platner.

«I can’t say why,» Platner said, adding that he was not a recipient of Fifield’s message. «I certainly didn’t know, and the text messages she’s sending to friends may have recognized it. They didn’t tell me that.»

Fifield also alleged that Platner assaulted her at one point during their relationship — an allegation that Platner said was false. 

U.S. Senate candidate from Maine Graham Platner speaks during a campaign event on May 17, 2026, in Portland, Maine. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

GRAHAM PLATNER ACCUSER HITS NYT FOR ALLEGEDLY SOFTENING ALLEGATIONS, SAYS COVERAGE WAS ‘GIFT’ TO DEMOCRAT

Platner has since had the tattoo covered up after it became a campaign issue in late 2025. He wore it for nearly two decades after he said he got it during a night of drinking with his fellow Marines while stationed in Croatia in 2007.

Amid Democrats’ divisions over Platner’s candidacy, Schneider indicated that he would struggle to support him at the ballot box if he were a Maine voter.

«I’ll leave it to the people of Maine to elect who they want,» he said, in remarks reported by Punchbowl News. «I’m grateful I don’t have to make that choice. I wouldn’t want to have to make that choice.»

Rep. Jake Auchincloss, D-Mass., and Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., have also sharply criticized Platner’s statements related to his since-covered-up tattoo.

«All I’m saying is when I was growing up, if someone had a clear Nazi tattoo on them, you probably could conclude that they’re a Nazi sympathizer,» Fetterman told CNN earlier this week. «Are you going to continue to defend that or dismiss that?»

Graham Platner, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Maine, points to a covered-up tattoo that was previously recognized as a Nazi symbol during an interview in Portland, Maine, on Oct. 22, 2025. (WGME via AP)

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Schneider’s New Democrat Coalition is the largest caucus among House Democrats, with more than 100 members.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Platner campaign before publication.