New allegations about Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner’s past conduct emerged this week after a New York Times report detailed accounts from former romantic partners who described volatile relationships, heavy drinking, and, in one instance, alleged physical intimidation.
According to reporting by Katie Glueck and Lisa Lerer of The New York Times, three women who previously dated Platner described relationships they characterized as emotionally turbulent and, at times, frightening. The report was based on interviews with more than two dozen people, including six former romantic partners.
One former girlfriend, Lyndsey Fifield, alleged that Platner sometimes grabbed her by the shoulders hard enough to leave marks, pulled her from a taxi during an argument, and on one occasion twisted her arm and confined her to a room until she calmed down. Fifield told the newspaper that the incidents left her shaken and fearful, though she also said he never punched her and did not cause lasting physical injury.
Platner’s campaign strongly disputed allegations of physical intimidation and denied characterizations that he engaged in physical altercations.
The Times also reported that Fifield described comments about violence and domination that she found disturbing. According to the newspaper, she alleged that Platner said that if someone broke into his home, he would rape the intruder as a way of demonstrating dominance rather than for sexual reasons. The report said Platner also maintained what Fifield described as a “warrior ethos” and frequently spoke about killing people he viewed as threats. According to The Times, Platner’s campaign did not dispute the remarks when questioned by the newspaper, although a friend interviewed by the publication said the comments sounded out of character.
The allegations add to a series of controversies that have dogged Platner’s campaign, including scrutiny over past online comments, reports concerning a tattoo that critics have linked to Nazi imagery, and revelations that he exchanged sexual messages with women while married.
The Times report noted that other former partners offered sharply different accounts, describing Platner as kind, supportive, and someone who never made them feel unsafe. Several women interviewed by the newspaper said they had positive experiences dating him and continue to support his Senate campaign.
Sorry Graham-dude, if a dude rapes another dude, the rapist dude is gay.
He is a bully.
Not dominant but a bully and there is a difference.
Consider for a brief moment if he was a Republican and not a Democrat.
The “Me Too” crowd would crucify him.
Instead…crickets.