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The growing list of controversies threatening Democrat Graham Platner’s Maine Senate bid
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Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner has emerged as one of the party’s fastest-rising political figures, drawing national attention for his populist message and outsider image.
But as his profile has grown, so has scrutiny of his past conduct, with controversies ranging from sexually explicit messages and offensive social media posts to a Nazi-linked tattoo and campaign staff upheaval.
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In continued clean-up of those scandals, Platner came to Washington, D.C. on Tuesday to huddle with party figures at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee headquarters just one week before his primary election.
The Marine veteran and oyster farmer has defended himself against the criticism and retained the support of prominent Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. Still, some have questioned whether the allegations could complicate Democrats’ efforts to unseat Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, in one of the nation’s most closely watched Senate races.
Here’s a look at the major controversies that have engulfed Platner’s campaign.
Explicit text messages and sexting allegations
Senate candidate Graham Platner is under fire, but it was his wife Amy Gertner coming out with a controversial five-minute social media post by the campaign to denounce the ‘attacks’ while she did not deny the allegations of infidelity in a new marriage. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
The most recent controversy surrounding Platner stems from reports that he exchanged sexually explicit messages with multiple women during his marriage, an issue that campaign aides were reportedly aware of as his Senate bid was taking shape.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Platner’s wife, Amy Gertner, informed a campaign aide about the text exchanges shortly after he launched his Senate bid as staffers were assessing potential political liabilities.
According to the report, Gertner discovered the messages months after the couple married in 2024 and disclosed their existence before her husband held a campaign rally alongside progressive Sen. Sanders. The campaign told Politico that the aide viewed the matter as a private issue between the couple and did not raise concerns about it publicly.
SENATE CANDIDATE GRAHAM PLATNER SENT EXPLICIT TEXTS TO MULTIPLE WOMEN WHILE MARRIED, WIFE SAYS: REPORT
Platner’s campaign later confirmed the existence of the text exchanges to Politico.
He also told Fox News Digital in a statement: «Amy and I went through something hard — because of me. We did the work, and I’m grateful for her every hour of every day.»
«I’ve learned throughout this campaign is that people don’t care about gossip or headlines, they care that you’re fighting for their hospitals, their paycheck, their kids… Our opponents want politics to be empty of content and empty of actual change — and beating that is exactly what our movement is about,» he added.
In a statement to the Journal, Gertner criticized the disclosure of the information, saying she had shared «deeply personal details» about her marriage with someone she considered a friend, only to see those details become public.
She revealed that the two attended couple’s counseling, worked through the issues in their marriage and have since emerged as a stronger couple.
«I know who Graham is. I know the man I married and the husband he has been to me on the best and the worst days of my life,» Gertner said. «That hasn’t changed, and it won’t.»
Nazi-linked tattoo
Graham Platner, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Maine, points to a covered tattoo that was previously recognized as a Nazi symbol during an interview in Portland, Maine, on Oct. 22, 2025. (WGME via AP)
Platner’s campaign also faced intense scrutiny after it was revealed he once had a skull-and-crossbones tattoo on his chest closely resembling the «Totenkopf» symbol used by Hitler’s SS paramilitary forces.
The Maine Democrat said he got the tattoo during a «night of drinking» while on leave in Croatia in 2007 as a Marine and claimed he was entirely unaware of its meaning at the time.
In an Instagram video posted in May, Platner elaborated on the tattoo’s origins. He explained that he merely selected the design from a flash tattoo wall while «carousing» with fellow Marines in Split, Croatia.
«We thought it looked cool,» he downplayed.
Platner said he was later «appalled» to learn the image resembled a Nazi symbol, arguing that his life and career have been defined by opposition to fascism, racism and Nazism. He also noted that he was never questioned about the tattoo during his military service.
MAINE DEM SENATE HOPEFUL BACKED BY BERNIE SANDERS APOLOGIZES FOR NAZI-STYLE TATTOO, VOWS TO STAY IN RACE
Rather than undergo removal, Platner said he chose to cover the tattoo because tattoo removal services were not readily available near his rural Maine home.
«Going to a tattoo removal place is going to take a while,» he told The Associated Press. «I wanted this thing off my body.»
The symbol was ultimately covered with a tattoo featuring a Celtic knot and images of dogs, which Platner said were meant to honor his family pets.
Deleted Reddit posts reveal offensive comments
U.S. Senate candidate from Maine Graham Platner speaks during a campaign event on May 17, 2026, in Portland, Maine. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
The keystone scrutiny Platner has faced during his bid stemmed from thousands of now-deleted Reddit posts that resurfaced after he launched his Senate campaign.
In posts first reported by CNN and Politico, Platner referred to himself as a «communist» and «socialist» and endorsed the slogan «all cops are b—–ds.»
In other posts, he argued that those who «expect to fight fascism without a good semi-automatic rifle, they ought to do some reading of history» and said that «an armed working class is a requirement for economic justice.»
DELETED POSTS URGING VIOLENCE HAUNT DEMOCRATIC SENATE HOPEFUL IN MAINE RACE
The posts under his since-retired username «P-hustle» were deleted before Platner announced his Democratic Senate bid in August.
The candidate has since addressed the posts multiple times, telling CNN and Politico that he was «f—ing around on the internet» during a period when he felt «lost and very disillusioned with our government who sent me overseas to watch my friends die.»
«I made dumb jokes and picked fights,» Platner said. «But of course I’m not a socialist. I’m a small business owner, a Marine Corps veteran, and a retired s—poster.»
In the posts Platner made crude comments about masturbating in port-a-potties and claimed a U.S. service member who took enemy fire in Afghanistan «didn’t deserve to live.»
GRAHAM PLATNER VOWS TO ‘COME AFTER’ BEZOS AS SENATE HOPEFUL ESCALATES BILLIONAIRE TAX FIGHT
The controversies have done little to erode Platner’s standing within the Democratic Party as he has continued to attract national attention and grassroots support in the Democratic primary bid to challenge Sen. Collins for her seat.
Since former Democratic Maine Gov. Janet Mills halted her campaign in April, much of the party establishment has consolidated behind Platner, and national Democrats have continued to support his candidacy despite the flurry of scandals.
The steady stream of allegations and past controversies has also drawn attention to a little-known provision in Maine election law that allows political parties to replace a nominee under certain circumstances after a primary election.
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Under state law, a candidate who wins a primary and subsequently withdraws by 5 p.m. on July 13 can be replaced by a nominee selected by party officials. Any replacement candidate must then be chosen by 5 p.m. on July 27.
There is currently no indication that Platner plans to withdraw from the race, and the Democratic hopeful has repeatedly vowed to continue his campaign. Still, the provision has drawn renewed interest as questions persist about whether additional revelations could complicate his candidacy.
Platner’s campaign did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
midterm elections, politics, campaigning, maine, bernie sanders, democrats senate
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Guerra en Medio Oriente EN VIVO: Pakistán instó a Irán y EEUU a reanudar las conversaciones de paz para frenar la guerra en Medio Oriente
El régimen de Irán lanzó una nueva ola de ataques con misiles contra países del Golfo Pérsico que albergan instalaciones militares estadounidenses. Jordania, Kuwait e Irak informaron la interceptación de varios proyectiles y repudiaron los bombardeos iraníes durante la madrugada de este jueves.
A última hora del miércoles, Estados Unidos completó una nueva ronda de ataques contra territorio iraní, con el objetivo de reducir la capacidad de Teherán para “amenazar a los marineros inocentes que tripulan buques comerciales que transitan por el estrecho de Ormuz”.
La nueva ofensiva ocurrió después de que Washington confirmara el restablecimiento del bloqueo naval sobre los puertos y costas iraníes, además del desvío de dos buques comerciales que, según el Pentágono, intentaron evadir las restricciones impuestas por Estados Unidos.
El presidente Donald Trump endureció su postura frente a Teherán y advirtió que la campaña militar en Medio Oriente podría ampliarse en los próximos días si el régimen iraní no acepta regresar a la mesa de negociaciones. “La próxima semana la situación será muy mala para ellos”, afirmó.
A continuación, la cobertura minuto a minuto:
El vicepresidente de Estados Unidos, JD Vance, afirmó que Washington avanza “en la dirección correcta” respecto a Irán, aunque advirtió que alcanzar una solución duradera “será complicado” y sostuvo que requiere un acuerdo.
El régimen de Irán amenazó con atacar “toda la infraestructura” de la región si Estados Unidos cumple la advertencia de Trump
El portavoz del Cuartel General Central de Khatam al-Anbiya, Ebrahim Zolfaghari, declaró que las instalaciones en Medio Oriente “serán aplastadas bajo los poderosos golpes de las fuerzas armadas iraníes” si Washington bombardea centrales eléctricas y puentes de su país
El régimen de Irán advirtió este jueves que atacará “toda la infraestructura” que permanezca en la región si Estados Unidos cumple la amenaza del presidente Donald Trump de atacar la infraestructura iraní. Además, sostuvo que no permitirá “bajo ninguna circunstancia” una intervención estadounidense en el estrecho de Ormuz y calificó esa zona como una “línea roja invencible”.
Pakistán instó a Irán y EEUU a reanudar las conversaciones de paz para frenar la guerra en Medio Oriente
Pakistán anunció este jueves que alentará a Estados Unidos e Irán a detener la violencia y reanudar el diálogo en el marco del memorando de entendimiento (MdE) que ayudó a mediar el mes pasado.
“Si bien la implementación del Memorando de Entendimiento enfrenta desafíos, Pakistán continuará alentando a todas las partes a poner fin a la violencia y reanudar las conversaciones a nivel técnico de conformidad con el Memorando de Entendimiento”, declaró Tahir Andrabi, portavoz del Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores, ante la prensa en Islamabad.
“Expresamos nuestra esperanza de que la situación en el estrecho de Ormuz se normalice pronto y subrayamos la importancia de garantizar la seguridad y la libertad de la navegación marítima”, añadió.
Bajan los precios del petróleo
Los precios del petróleo registraron un descenso en las primeras horas del jueves, aunque se mantienen en niveles elevados en un contexto de intensificación de los ataques de Estados Unidos contra Irán y ofensivas iraníes con misiles y drones contra Kuwait y Bahréin.
El crudo Brent, referencia internacional, cayó un 0,5% y se ubicó en 84,57 dólares por barril. A finales de febrero, antes del inicio del conflicto, cotizaba cerca de 72 dólares por barril. El precio de referencia del crudo estadounidense descendió un 0,2%, hasta 79,43 dólares por barril.
El FMI advirtió que la oferta de petróleo tardará hasta tres meses en normalizarse una vez que Ormuz se reabra completamente
El organismo advirtió que la dependencia de un único punto crítico, en referencia a la estratégica vía marítima, expone a la economía global y resaltó la importancia de diversificar las fuentes de energía
El Fondo Monetario Internacional (FMI) advirtió que el flujo mundial de petróleo podría tardar entre dos y tres meses en normalizarse una vez que el estrecho de Ormuz se reabra completamente a la navegación finalice el bloqueo anunciado por el régimen de Irán días atrás en medio de una nueva escalada de la guerra en Medio Oriente.
Teherán amenazó la infraestructura regional si Estados Unidos ataca a Irán
Teherán amenazó este jueves que atacará la infraestructura regional de los países aliados a Estados Unidos si Washington cumple con sus advertencias de atacar instalaciones iraníes.
El portavoz del cuartel general militar de Irán afirmó que, de concretarse esos avisos, “toda la infraestructura de la región sería aplastada bajo los golpes de acero de las fuerzas armadas iraníes”.
Israel le comunicó al Pentágono que mantendrá tropas en “zonas de seguridad” en Líbano, Siria y Gaza
El ministro de Defensa de Israel, Israel Katz, comunicó a su homólogo estadounidense, Pete Hegseth, que el Ejército israelí mantendrá sus fuerzas en las “zonas de seguridad” establecidas dentro de Líbano, Siria y la Franja de Gaza.
Según un comunicado difundido este jueves, ambos funcionarios conversaron durante la noche y Katz “enfatizó la determinación de Israel de permanecer en las zonas de seguridad en Siria, Gaza y Líbano para proteger sus fronteras y las comunidades cercanas de las amenazas de fuerzas yihadistas”.
Se observa fuego y humo en Chabahar, Irán , tras informes de una explosión
Jordania interceptó ocho misiles iraníes durante la noche
Los sistemas de defensa aérea de Jordania interceptaron y destruyeron ocho misiles iraníes dirigidos al país en la madrugada del jueves, según informó el ejército jordano. No se reportaron víctimas ni daños materiales. Equipos de ingenieros aseguraron las zonas donde cayeron los restos, y las fuerzas armadas permanecen en alerta máxima ante posibles nuevas amenazas.
Por su parte, el ejército iraní afirmó que sus drones atacaron sistemas de comunicación, depósitos de combustible y una estación de radar fija en la base aérea de Al Azraq, en Jordania, identificada como una base militar estadounidense. El comunicado, difundido por medios oficiales iraníes, precisó que la ofensiva corresponde a la novena fase de la “Operación Saeqeh” (Relámpago) y fue lanzada en respuesta a los recientes ataques estadounidenses contra Irán, incluido un bombardeo a un cuartel militar en la provincia de Sistán y Baluchistán que, según Teherán, causó la muerte de siete militares.
El régimen de Irán lanzó ataques contra bases e instalaciones militares de Estados Unidos en Jordania, Kuwait e Irak
La Guardia Revolucionaria informó que “atacó los sistemas de comunicación militar y depósitos de combustible” en la base de Azraq, además de un radar de alerta temprana C-RAM en la base aérea Ali Al Salem. También anunció que bombardeó una zona de concentración de tropas en Umm Qasr
Irán afirmó este jueves que atacó instalaciones y tropas de Estados Unidos en Jordania, Kuwait e Irak, según comunicados difundidos por medios estatales iraníes. Hasta el momento, el Pentágono, el Comando Central de Estados Unidos (CENTCOM) y las autoridades de jordanas no respondieron a esas afirmaciones.
Tahir Andrabi
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EXCLUSIVE: Pence pushes to rename bill for Lindsey Graham, recalls final talk: ‘Bring Putin to the table’
Senators push to pass Graham-backed Russia sanctions bill
Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., discusses the bipartisan effort to pass the Russia sanctions bill, aimed at increasing pressure on Vladimir Putin to end the Ukraine war. McCormick also details President Donald Trump’s address at the Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation Summit on ‘Fox & Friends.’
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FIRST ON FOX: Former Vice President Mike Pence is calling on Congress to rename Sen. Lindsey Graham’s signature Russia sanctions legislation after the late South Carolina Republican, telling Fox News Digital there would be «no more fitting tribute» to one of the Senate’s most influential national security hawks.
In an exclusive interview, Pence said Graham’s years-long push for tougher sanctions against Russia should become both his legislative legacy and a permanent reminder of his unwavering support for Ukraine and America’s allies.
Pence argued Congress has a rare opportunity to honor Graham by passing the bipartisan sanctions package he spent years championing and sending it to President Donald Trump with the senator’s name attached.
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Former Vice President Mike Pence told Fox News Digital Graham always took time to inquire about his family, recalling one of their last conversations. (Jose Sarmento Matos/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
«I also believe it’d be altogether fitting to put Sen. Lindsey Graham’s name on that bill,» Pence told Fox News Digital. «Send it to the president, have him sign it into law.»
Pence said Graham viewed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as one of the defining geopolitical challenges of the era and believed economic pressure was essential to forcing Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate.
«He never had any illusions about who we were dealing with — with Vladimir Putin,» Pence said.
The former vice president, who has traveled to Ukraine twice since Russia’s invasion, said Graham understood that Ukraine represented «a frontier of freedom» and consistently pushed both Republican and Democratic administrations to stand firmly with America’s allies.
When asked whether the sanctions legislation could ultimately become Graham’s greatest achievement, Pence said it may well define how history remembers the longtime senator.
«I think it could be,» Pence said.
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Pence praised Graham’s advocacy for Israel, Ukraine and a stronger NATO alliance. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
He pointed to Graham’s decades-long advocacy for Israel, Ukraine and a stronger NATO alliance, saying the senator remained remarkably consistent throughout his public career.
Pence said Graham also played an important role in encouraging NATO allies to increase defense spending during the first Trump administration, while remaining one of Israel’s fiercest advocates on Capitol Hill.
For Pence, however, Graham’s final legislative push is inseparable from one of their last conversations together.
He still remembers the meeting vividly.
Pence and his wife, Karen, had just landed at Reagan National Airport and were making their way through the terminal when they spotted Graham heading toward another gate.
As he almost always did, Graham began by asking about Pence’s family.
The senator wanted updates on Pence’s son, a Marine Corps fighter pilot, and his son-in-law, a Navy fighter pilot. Pence said Graham never forgot to ask about them.
But after briefly catching up, the conversation shifted to the issue occupying Graham’s attention in his final months.
«We went straight into a conversation about Ukraine sanctions,» Pence recalled.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, meets with Sen. Lindsey Graham in Kyiv, Ukraine, March 18, 2024. Pence said Graham’s bipartisan Russia sanctions bill should be renamed in the senator’s honor. (Ukrainian Presidency/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Pence thanked Graham for leading the effort and mentioned a Wall Street Journal opinion piece supporting tougher sanctions against Russia.
Graham immediately leaned in.
«He did one of those — puts his finger in my chest — and said, ‘You just stay on this. This is the way we’re gonna get this done. This is the way you bring Putin to the table.’»
The two men embraced before heading toward separate gates.
«We parted with a handshake and a hug,» Pence said.
LINDSEY GRAHAM, SOUTH CAROLINA SENATOR WHO ROSE FROM SMALL-TOWN ROOTS TO GOP POWER BROKER, DIES AT 71
Looking back, Pence said that brief airport encounter perfectly captured the man he had known for decades.
Graham enjoyed talking about family and could always be counted on for a joke, Pence said, but the personal conversation rarely lasted long before he returned to public policy.
«He was a very serious legislator,» Pence said. «He was a man who was deeply committed to policy.»
Pence said Graham’s convictions never changed, whether the issue was supporting the military, standing with Israel, protecting unborn life or confronting authoritarian regimes like Russia, Iran and China.
«He never wavered,» Pence said.
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The former vice president said he learned of Graham’s death Sunday morning and remains deeply saddened by the loss of someone he first came to know during the Republican Revolution of the 1990s before serving alongside him in Congress and later in the Trump administration.
«I was taken aback by the news,» Pence said. «I really, really have a heavy heart to this hour.»
Pence said he hopes lawmakers finish the work Graham dedicated years to advancing.
«I really do believe there would be no more fitting tribute to the life and vision of Senator Lindsey Graham than for Congress to pass and the president to sign the tough Russia sanctions bill,» Pence said.
«I’m going to continue to champion that in the days ahead.»
The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
mike pence, lindsey graham, politics, congress, senate
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