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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
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Ukraine launches what appears to be one of its largest drone attacks against Russia: report
Secretary Rubio clarifies US stance on Russia, Ukraine conflict
Secretary Rubio clarifies the US stance on alleged agreements with Russia over Ukraine from Manama, Bahrain. He states there was only a proposal, not a full agreement, and that the US remains committed to playing a constructive role in ending the bloody war. Rubio notes the high casualties, particularly among Russian soldiers, highlighting the conflict’s devastating impact.
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As the brutal war between the two nations continues to rage, Ukraine conducted a significant nighttime assault against a dozen Russian regions, Russian-held Crimea as well as the surrounding seas, Russia’s Ministry of Defense indicated on Friday, according to The Associated Press, which reported that the effort appeared to be one Ukraine’s largest drone attacks since Russia’s full-scale invasion several years ago.
The ministry reported that the country’s air defenses intercepted a whopping 660 Ukrainian drones, according to the outlet, which noted that the prior largest Ukrainian assault during the past year included 556 drones last month on May 17.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin indicated that 47 Ukrainian drones were taken out as they headed for the capital city, according to the report.
‘PURE HELL’ IN MOSCOW AS UKRAINIAN DRONES STRIKE MAJOR REFINERY SUPPLYING CAPITAL’S FUEL MARKET
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky gestures during his meeting with Britain’s Prime Minister on the sideline of the G7 summit, in Evian, eastern France, on June 16, 2026. (Isabel Infantes / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)
The AP reported that Ukraine’s air force indicated that the nation’s defenses stopped 174 of 189 Russian drones overnight, though four out of seven Iskander-M ballistic missiles breached air defenses and hit various places.
But even as the years-long war between the two countries drags on, the bitter enemies engaged in a prisoner swap, according to the AP, which reported that officials said 160 individuals from each side were going home on Friday.
RUSSIA PREPARING HYBRID ATTACKS ON NATO’S EASTERN FLANK, INTELLIGENCE WARNS
In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin chairs a Security Council meeting via videolink in Moscow on June 25, 2026. (Pavel Byrkin / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted in a Friday post on X, «We continue bringing Ukrainians home from Russian captivity. Today, 160 servicemembers were released from captivity. All of them had been held captive since 2022.»
«Among those released today are servicemembers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the State Special Transport Service, National Guard warriors, and border guards. They defended Ukraine in Mariupol and at Azovstal, as well as in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv, Chernihiv, and Sumy sectors,» he continued.
FUNERALS, BEAUTY QUEENS AND BOMBS: THE UKRAINIAN CITY THAT WON’T LET PUTIN WIN
Trucks are engulfed by smoke from a fire at a parking lot in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, on June 25, 2026. (Dmytro Smolienko/Ukrinform/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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«I thank our entire team, which works every day to bring our people back. Special gratitude to all our units on the frontline who replenish Ukraine’s ‘exchange fund’ and, through their courage, make it possible for us to bring people home. We remember everyone who remains in captivity. We are checking every name. We must bring everyone back – both military personnel and civilians,» Zelenskyy added.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
wars, drones, world, russia, ukraine
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INTERNACIONAL
Socialists sweep NYC as Americans balk at movement’s brutal catch: ‘Talk to immigrants’
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Americans gathered on the National Mall for President Donald Trump’s America250 kickoff at the Great American State Fair said New York’s socialist surge is a warning sign for Democrats — one they argue history has already rejected.
«If you study history, you will see that many countries have already tried to go down that path and ended up in disaster,» said 11th grade Georgia teacher Jill. «If you talk to immigrants who came from countries that were socialist, they will tell you they left you know tending toward communist countries. They left for that reason.»
Fox News Digital spoke with Americans who gathered on the National Mall Wednesday evening for Trump’s rally kicking off the Great American State Fair celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary, where attendees shared why they believe socialism would fail in the United States.
The comments follow New York City socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani scoring another political victory Tuesday, with all three congressional candidates he endorsed—Brad Lander, Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier—winning their respective Democratic primaries.
WINNERS AND LOSERS EMERGE AFTER SOCIALIST EARTHQUAKE ROCKS NYC PRIMARIES
Rally-goers on the National Mall call out socialism. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images; Fox News Digital)
The victories were widely viewed as another sign of Mamdani’s growing influence in the Democrat Party and the increasing acceptance of socialism.
The socialist victories in several high-profile New York Democratic primaries drew a sharp political contrast that many attendees of Trump’s rally told Fox News Digital served as a stark reminder of the direction they fear the country is heading.
Rally attendee Jill told Fox News Digital that she traveled to East Germany at the age of 16 when the Berlin Wall was coming down, an experience she now brings into the classroom by showing her students photos from the trip.
«I show my students pictures, and we talk about what communism means … capitalism is what’s got us here. We’ve been a capitalist country for a very long time. They have to be extremely careful when voting. They need to study and be well-informed voters,» Jill continued.
While socialism collapsed in the Soviet Union and East Germany, it continues to shape the governments of countries such as Cuba and Venezuela—two nations that President Donald Trump has made a focus of his foreign policy efforts in an effort to support democratic change.
NYC VOTERS EMBRACE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM AS AOC, SANDERS STUMP FOR MAMDANI
Trump supporters speak to Fox News Digital at Great American State Fair rally. (Hannah Brennan/Fox News Digital)
«I don’t support socialism … If you look at Cuba, the difference there… compared to even the other Caribbean countries around it, it’s totally different. And they’re driving old cars. They don’t have even heating and air … capitalism makes that possible. And so I’m very much in favor of working for what you want … I still think America is a place where the American dream can still come true,» said Toni of Kentucky.
«A hundred million people died from communism, whether it be from China and Mao or Stalin and Russia, Hitler. We can’t forget our history, or we have a tendency to repeat it, and we should definitely reject this. It’s never worked anywhere. And capitalism and a free market society has benefited the world,» David of Annapolis, Maryland, said.
Jennifer, who traveled from Tennessee, said she is worried about the rise of socialism in America.
«It’s not something that’s beneficial for our country and our values,» she said.
Former Rochester, New York, resident Norma told Fox News Digital she has 10 grandchildren and is worried about the next generation.
«New York is pretty much, I hate to say, far gone… I lived there for 22 years. There are conservative people there, but unfortunately, there’s this new agenda coming through,» she said.
NYC VOTERS FLOCK TO SOCIALIST-STYLE FREEBIES AS MAMDANI PUSHES RENT FREEZES, CITY-RUN STORES
A father and son traveled from New York. (Ashley DiMella/Fox News Digital)
Mamdani has faced criticism from conservatives over proposals including fare-free city buses, universal free childcare and city-run grocery stores, with Americans at the event telling Fox News Digital that «free» programs ultimately come at taxpayers’ expense.
«Socialism promises everything, but they can’t deliver past everybody’s money… history has shown where socialism fails… the proof is in the pudding,» said Billy of North Carolina.
«I don’t agree with it at all… we can’t function on giving everything away for free,» said Nicky of Tennessee.
DANGEROUS OR AN OPPORTUNITY? SOCIAL MEDIA AS VENUE FOR DISCUSSING POLITICS DEBATED BY YOUNG CONSERVATIVES
People watch as U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a rally to kick off the Great American State Fair on the National Mall on June 24, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
When Fox News Digital asked Gen Z and Millennial voters whether Mamdani is «cool,» Sarah of Massachusetts and Johanna and Elizabeth of California responded, «no.»
«I understand the appeal that socialism has, but definitely don’t think that it’s the right way our country should be going. I think in theory it makes sense,» said Sarah. «In reality, that’s not how it ends up looking. It’s definitely scary to see so many of my generation leaning that way.»
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«It’s a really good concept to have everything for free in socialism, but it doesn’t really work out in the real world,» added Johanna. «If you look at the countries that have already tried socialism, it really hasn’t worked. It also doesn’t encourage innovation.»
Elizabeth, visiting Washington, D.C. for the week, said she agreed with her friends, adding, «I’m not a socialist. I’m a Republican.»
zohran mamdani, cuba, democrats elections, politics, primary results, socialism, america 250
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