Platner Campaign Operative Accused of Harassing Federal Agent in Lewiston

A far-left activist tied to Democrat U.S. Senate nominee Graham Platner is facing allegations after law enforcement sources and Lewiston residents say she stalked and harassed a federal Homeland Security Investigations agent through Lewiston streets after mistakenly believing the agent was connected to ICE enforcement operations.

Multiple sources, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, identified the individual as Melissa Dunn, a controversial Lewiston activist known for anti-police rhetoric, confrontations with reporters, and her involvement with activist groups surrounding the mosque and MEIRS offices on Bartlett Street. Several local residents also identified Dunn following the incident and referenced her social media posts describing the encounter.

According to sources, Dunn allegedly followed the HSI agent for approximately 45 minutes through Lewiston neighborhoods while repeatedly honking her horn, making illegal U-turns, and allegedly running stop signs and stop lights. Sources said the agent believed Dunn’s behavior had become aggressive enough to raise legitimate safety concerns.

Dunn then took to social media, where she publicly posted descriptions of vehicles, license plate numbers, routes traveled through Lewiston, and accusations directed at both Homeland Security Investigations and the Lewiston Police Department.

In one post, Dunn accused HSI agents of providing “falsified reports” to Lewiston police and claimed local officers were improperly working alongside federal authorities. She also complained that HSI agents were “paranoid” and declared she would continue driving through Lewiston “without intimidation and harassment.”

The irony was difficult to ignore. While accusing federal agents of intimidation, Dunn herself was allegedly the one tailing a federal law enforcement officer through city streets for nearly an hour.

HSI, or Homeland Security Investigations, is a federal law enforcement agency within the Department of Homeland Security. While activists often conflate HSI with ICE deportation operations, HSI agents routinely investigate narcotics trafficking, child exploitation, human trafficking, gang activity, financial crimes, and organized criminal networks.

Dunn has become an increasingly polarizing figure in Lewiston politics and activism.

She previously pushed Maine Wire reporter Jon Fetherston inside the Lewiston City Council chambers during a heated confrontation involving activists and disgraced former city councilor Iman Osman. Dunn has also repeatedly made inflammatory comments on social media targeting the Lewiston Police Department, Androscoggin County District Attorney Neil McLean, and Lewiston Mayor Carl Sheline, often accusing city officials and law enforcement of corruption, intimidation, or misconduct without evidence.

She additionally serves as part of the so-called “Safety Squad” presence outside the mosque and MEIRS offices on Bartlett Street. In recent weeks, police have reportedly been called regarding members of the group allegedly blocking traffic near local businesses and harassing business owners in the area.

Community members have also accused activists associated with the group of attempting to prevent distribution of flyers promoting a public gun violence forum held earlier this month in Lewiston.

Dunn has also reportedly worked security for multiple Graham Platner campaign events in Lewiston and Portland.

The allegations come as Platner himself continues to face scrutiny over a string of inflammatory statements and controversies throughout his Senate campaign. Platner has repeatedly attacked ICE and federal immigration enforcement while aligning himself with activist circles increasingly hostile toward police and federal law enforcement agencies.

Platner has called for abolishing ICE and said agents should face public hearings and possibly trials. At a Windham town hall, he said, “people need to go to prison,” and described ICE agents as “masked armed thugs.” He also accused ICE of “kidnapping people off the streets of the United States because of their skin color.”

His campaign also posted an anti-ICE rally video from Lewiston with the description: “Kidnapping. Abductions. Using violence against the innocent. Destroying their property. Holding them against their will. Murder. All crimes being committed by federal agents. ICE out of Maine NOW.”

Critics say the allegations involving Dunn raise larger questions about the culture surrounding Platner’s campaign and the kinds of activists being welcomed into positions of influence and authority around his campaign events. Platner also refused to comment on a recent shooting in Lewiston, when asked by The Maine Wire, and later snuck out the back door of the Maine People’s Alliance office after a campaign event, to avoid a follow-up from the Maine Wire.

For many residents already concerned about rising crime, political extremism, and anti-police rhetoric in Lewiston, the idea that a Senate campaign would rely on an activist accused of stalking a federal agent while publicly attacking law enforcement is likely to deepen those concerns even further.

 The Platner campaign did not respond to requests for comment.