Several Women Who Dated Graham Platner Recall 'Unsettling' Behavior

[ABC123Easy]

It seems Platner may be lying about the Nazi tattoo. Take of this article what you will. My gut is telling me that if he wins the election, in a few years we may be reflecting back on the good old days with "concerned" Susan Collins. I certainly hope not but my spider sense says to beware of this guy.

"Some of the women also raised questions about his trustworthiness. Mr. Platner’s insistence that he did not know that his tattoo was a Nazi symbol until it became a campaign issue last fall was simply not true, Ms. Fifield said. After all, she said, he had taught her the word for it years earlier, referring to it as “my Totenkopf.”"

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/04/us/politics/platner-maine-senate-girlfriends-relationships.html?unlocked_article_code=1.nlA.iyvb.cogFTy2xM4vN&smid=url-share

[pat_k]

1. Related thread from earlier

More unsavory news regarding Graham Platner
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221282415

As Nanjeanne notes in that other thread:

He has acknowledged as poor behavior. But keep feeling if this is what they came up with after working and trying so hard I personally can’t get that worked up about it. It seems like so much focus being made to take this guy down. And im much more interested in taking Susan Collins down.

He was a terrible boyfriend. And a bad husband who decided to work on that. He had anger issues. He drank too much. Stuff he’s acknowledged.
...

As for me, he's gonna be the nominee in a few days. I will be pulling for him in the general. (I live in WA, so have no actual say, aside from contributing).

I have trouble imagining a skeleton big enough to make Susan Collins and lower chances of Dems winning the Senate a "better" option.

I could be wrong about him. He could win and implode in office somehow and end up resigning, but Susan Collins will be gone.

And, if he did implode, and Shah (or whoever gets the nod on the 9th) wins the governorship, we'd have a Dem appointed until a special election.

[EdmondDantes_]

4. Being physically abusive and blocking women in rooms isn't something to just ignore like he belches at the dinner table

There's a difference between being a terrible boyfriend and an abusive one. 3 women have independently said he's the latter.

[niyad]

10. Dear Goddess, I just read the entire article! Still shaking.

[mcar]

12. You're OK with this, then?

But she said he regularly grabbed her by the shoulders — sometimes hard enough to leave marks — and, on one occasion, yanked her out of a cab by her wrist after an argument when she wanted to stay in the car.

During one argument, she recalled, he twisted her arm behind her back, shoved her into a bedroom and held the door closed from the other side so she couldn’t get out, telling her to remain there until she was “calm.” Eventually, Ms. Fifield said, she fell asleep and left the next morning.

“It hurt,” she said. But she added: “It didn’t cause an injury, it didn’t break my arm.”

[Rhiannon12866]

15. Here's Nicolle Wallace's report:

BREAKING: Several women recall 'unsettling' experiences with Graham Platner per New York Times - Deadline - MS NOW
https://www.democraticunderground.com/132173536

[RockCreek]

2. Maine has ranked voting, including in this primary

There are three people on the Dem primary ballot.
I believe voters can rank 3 candidates.
He can be ranked 3rd.

[LisaL]

3. It sounds to me that Maine is determined to nominate him.

NT

[yankee87]

5. Enough

Give it a rest. He's the Democratic candidate for Senator. If he's good enough for Bernie, he's good enough for me. We have the Epstein cabal ruining the entire government. I won't see whether the government is ever fixed because of my age. Stop screwing around as the shop teacher in South Park says.

[ABC123Easy]

6. Whatever

Tell the freaking NY Times to give it a rest not me.

[LisaL]

7. I can guarantee that is not going to happen.

NT

[niyad]

9. He is the PRESEPUMPTIVE nominee until the results are in from

Last edited Thu Jun 4, 2026, 10:22 PM - Edit history (1)

the June 9 primary.

[MichMan]

11. FYI, Bernie also endorsed John Fetterman

[mcar]

13. No.

He is a very flawed candidate - and man. We're supposed to ignore this:

But she said he regularly grabbed her by the shoulders — sometimes hard enough to leave marks — and, on one occasion, yanked her out of a cab by her wrist after an argument when she wanted to stay in the car.

During one argument, she recalled, he twisted her arm behind her back, shoved her into a bedroom and held the door closed from the other side so she couldn’t get out, telling her to remain there until she was “calm.” Eventually, Ms. Fifield said, she fell asleep and left the next morning.

“It hurt,” she said. But she added: “It didn’t cause an injury, it didn’t break my arm.”

Why? Because Trump?

[pat_k]

20. Stories of redemption and reform are woven into the fabric of our nation.

I was always wary of Platner because he never ran for anything else and was running for U.S. Senator. As such, he was never vetted in the way a candidate recruited to run would have been.

But we are where we are.

And he is the presumptive nominee. And will likely be the nominee.

You can choose.

Is his a story of redemption and reform from a life in which he got a nazi tatoo and dealt with anger issues and alcohol abuse -- something that is a quintessentially American story.

Or is he someone you are so sure has not *really* reformed that you would vote for Collins, and thereby vote to keep control of the Senate in the hands of the Trumpublicans?

Are you so sure he is unredeemably screwed up that you would rather ensure the most dangerous man ever to have occupied the WH continued to be unchecked by a Trumpublican Senate than see him voted into the Senate?

Because THAT is the choice.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

21. What is his redemption arc?

Is his a story of redemption and reform from a life in which he got a nazi tatoo and dealt with anger issues and alcohol abuse -- something that is a quintessentially American story.

lol WHAT

[LisaL]

23. Yes, what exactly did he do for redemption?

Running for senate qualifies as redemption now?

[pat_k]

26. I'd call the personal transformation he describes "redemption." YMMV.

[pcdb]

70. He has an active account on KIK, a site know for predators.

What transformation are you talking about??

[pat_k]

84. When his wife revealed this past behavior to the campaign, she had NO intention it would be leaked to smear.

As a couple, they say they did (and are doing) the work. That's enough for me.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/graham-platner-wife-amy-gertner-disclosed-extramarital-sexting-rcna347737

The "piling on" sure looks like what they did to Al Franken

New Yorker
The Case of Al Franken
Jane Mayer
July 22, 2019

For most members of the Senate who called for his head, that action was one they regret above all others.

https://web.archive.org/web/20190829044419/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/07/29/the-case-of-al-franken

And X GOP operative Rick Wilson

Link to tweet

[pat_k]

25. Have you heard the man speak?

I'd call the personal transformation he describes "redemption."

YMMV.

[LisaL]

27. And I don't believe he is being honest.

So I don't count this as redemption.

[Nixie]

32. Things still don't add up.

[pat_k]

33. Do you live in ME? If so, do you plan to vote for Collins (or not vote, a default vote for Collins).

If you don't live in ME, how would you vote if you did?

If you won't (or wouldn't) vote for Platner, I pose the question again:

Are you so sure he is irredeemably screwed up that you would rather ensure the most dangerous man ever to have occupied the WH continued to be unchecked by a Trumpublican Senate than see him voted into the Senate?

[LisaL]

35. Let's just say I am very glad I don't have to vote in ME.

Because I don't live there.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

28. What transformation does he describe?

[pat_k]

29. Talking about the "dark periods" of struggles with alcohol, anger, and PTSD in the past tense...

...sounds to me like he has "come through the other side."

This argument aside, if you had to choose, would you vote for Platner or Collins?

Or would you not vote (a default vote for Collins).

[LisaL]

31. So if he talks about it in a past tense, he doesn't have any of these issues anymore?

I didn't realize that's how it worked.

[pat_k]

37. As I said an earlier post, YMMV

Now I have a couple questions for you.

Do you live in ME?

If so, do you plan to vote for Collins (or not vote, a default vote for Collins).

If you don't live in ME, how would you vote if you did?

If you won't (or wouldn't) vote for Platner, I pose the question from an earlier post again:

Are you so sure he is irredeemably screwed up that you would rather ensure the most dangerous man ever to have occupied the WH continued to be unchecked by a Trumpublican Senate than see him voted into the Senate?

[WhiskeyGrinder]

38. oh I thought maybe he had talked about how he recognized harm he had caused, had a moment where he realized he

needed to change, and then described the work he had done to make amends for the past and what he's doing for the future. I suppose people can expect different things when it comes to the concept of a transformation though

[pat_k]

50. I have only seen a handful of appearances so can't speak to much except what I saw.

And that was a person talking about a "dark time" or "dark period" that was presumably behind him.

[niyad]

39. According to the various bio bits, he is on disability for PTSD.

One thing that pissed me off was hearing someone excuse his rape apologist posts as being a result of PTSD. In all my decades of counseling, and dealing with, PTSD vets, not one of them has ever said anything like that.

[Nixie]

67. 👍.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

68. Some people seem to be breaking their backs to make excuses for this guy

It's gross.

[niyad]

73. It is indeed.

[Nanjeanne]

52. Maybe his 3 tours in Iraq and Afghanistan? He has spoken about his PTSD

[niyad]

36. Or good coaching? Good PR? Abusive people, and rape apologists,

in general, seldom experience redemption.

YMMV

[pat_k]

54. I've known a few people over the years who abused alcohol who engaged in despicable behavior while drunk.

And over the years I've seen some of those people get sober. That kind of transformation is not all that rare.

[niyad]

57. I said "abusive people", not people who abuse alcohol. And I notice

you did not mention the rape apologists.

[pat_k]

59. I meant that people say and do things that are out of character when drinking.

I have no idea what his condition was a decade ago when he posted the despicable comments. I have no idea what Reddit rabbit holes he had been traveling down.

One thing I KNOW is that people can radically change their view of the world on almost any dimension. Just look at David Brock. Look at people who have left violent extremist groups or cults and are helping others break free. There are countless examples. I don't have any X-rape apologist persons in mind, but transformation is absolutely possible.

[pat_k]

61. P.S.

Talking in generalities doesn't get far. What we have here is a person who is almost 100% guaranteed to be the Democratic nominee. And the choice of whether or not to support his candidacy.

Are you so sure he is so irredeemably screwed up that you would scuttle his candidacy and thereby vastly increase the possibility that the most dangerous man ever to have occupied the WH will continue to be unchecked by a Trumpublican Senate?

[niyad]

63. Gosh, I had no idea I was such an influential and powerful

person.

[pat_k]

64. What you post matters ("you" in the collective sense).

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221217384

[betsuni]

41. This is what an authentically "flawed candidate" is.

Flawed candidate, flawed candidate, flawed candidate. I feel like repeating the words repeated over and over and over. Also, "baggage."

But guess who gets the benefit of the doubt! No mention of holding feet to the fire or earning one's vote or holding noses.

[Jose Garcia]

16. Is that same Bernie who endorsed John Fetterman?

[LisaL]

24. Yep, that's the man.

NT

[MorbidButterflyTat]

62. Sanders: Fetterman 'Is Going To Be A Real Fighter For The Working Class'

[Cha]

71. Oh yeah, Sanders. I was for Conor

Lamb. And, now I've read AOc has apologized to Lamb.

[Mysterian]

8. I'm so concerned!

I bet you are too!

[mcar]

14. So you're OK with this?

But she said he regularly grabbed her by the shoulders — sometimes hard enough to leave marks — and, on one occasion, yanked her out of a cab by her wrist after an argument when she wanted to stay in the car.

During one argument, she recalled, he twisted her arm behind her back, shoved her into a bedroom and held the door closed from the other side so she couldn’t get out, telling her to remain there until she was “calm.” Eventually, Ms. Fifield said, she fell asleep and left the next morning.

“It hurt,” she said. But she added: “It didn’t cause an injury, it didn’t break my arm.”

[ABC123Easy]

18. I'm totally not okay with it.

I know you weren't asking me but how can anyone be okay with this?

[mcar]

19. Some here are, I'm saddened to say

[ABC123Easy]

17. Super duper concerned!

[mr715]

22. It is troubling.

[Emile]

34. My gut tells me they're probably all employed by a centrist lobbying group.

[niyad]

40. All the women are liars?

[Emile]

42. My gut says they could be.

[niyad]

44. Because women always lie?

I know what my gut is telling me about a great many things in many areas these days. It has been known to be wrong on rare occasions, though.

[Emile]

46. No, I was thinking of a centrist lobbying group

smearing him.

[niyad]

51. Do I understand then that the difference is these women are lying

for a group rather than just themselves?

[Emile]

53. I know there is a centrist lobbying group

smearing him!

[Nixie]

65. That poster blames "centrists" for everything. No sense needs to be made

out of the actual subject matter — just say “centrist.” There is not an answer to your questions other than “centrist.”

[niyad]

72. Ah, thank you.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

66. What's your gut say about the stuff he admitted to?

You know, his quintessentially American redemption story?

[Emile]

69. He is being attacked by a centrist lobbying group.

[Nanjeanne]

48. What are the terrible things the other women accused Platner of that he hasn't addressed? He has

acknowledged after three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan he had big anger issues and alcohol problems and had a sexist bravado that was very unbecoming. He’s spoken many times about that openly. So no,of course they aren’t lying about that dark period.

[ABC123Easy]

74. My gut tells me

That anyone with a Nazi tattoo won't get my vote, no matter what the reason.

[Emile]

75. My gut tells me you don't live in Maine.

He probably wouldn't want your vote anyways.

[ABC123Easy]

76. My gut tells me

That you're definitely not worth replying to any longer.

[Emile]

78. Good, you saying the same thing over and over had my brain buffering.

[ABC123Easy]

79. I could see it was

Buffering.......buffering

[Emile]

80. Then why did you reply?

[ABC123Easy]

81. Because

I enjoy the thought of your buffering issues!

[Emile]

82. See, my sense of humor has helped you from repeating the same thing over, and over.

Glad I could help.

[ABC123Easy]

83. Yes

Tis a glorious day, indeed!

[Nanjeanne]

43. And several don't. Read the whole article. Doesn't make any of them liars. People have said he and

Lyndsey had a volatile relationship but mutual friend did say the behavior Lyndsey described seemed out of character for Platner.

[LisaL]

45. Oh sure.

Heavily drinking individuals are known for their good character.

[mr715]

47. Hey!

[orangecrush]

49. Urrrrp!

Cheers!

[mr715]

55. .

[Wifes husband]

56. I am not ok with this

Democrats need have a higher standard than this. I don't want to lower my standards this low.

[questionseverything]

58. I just want him to vote correctly, I don't want to date him

[gulliver]

60. Sadly, neither party is going to get extreme hotshots

As I've said many times, the very best people don't want to work for people who will turn on them, who hound them, who dox or threaten them. Amazing no one seems to get that. We all think we're in a buyer's market. No, we are not.

The people, I hate to say it, need to be accountable. Polite. Patriotic. Reasonable.

Passion is worthless.

[MineralMan]

77. It also seems like you're OK with six more years of Susan Collins.

You're amping up the attacks on a Democratic candidate who is trying to replace her.

How else should I read your post?

This is getting really annoying.

[JCMach1]

85. Exactly... Weirdo? Creep? Still better than a shill,

Shrill, sell-out that is Susan Collins.

The measured attacks against Dems and against progressives are getting more than annoying.