Overview
- A database of roughly 2,000 deleted Reddit posts attributed to Graham Platner was published this month and includes a June 2019 comment that said the wounded soldier "didn’t deserve to live."
- Platner declined to apologize when confronted on camera, defending his service and saying he served four infantry tours and respects veterans.
- The soldier targeted in the post is Purple Heart recipient Pfc. Ted (Teddy) Daniels, who publicly rebuked Platner on camera and said he did not want an apology.
- Daniels and other veterans rejected Platner’s prior invocation of PTSD as an explanation, saying it should not be used to avoid accountability for public remarks.
- Political fallout is already unfolding: Republican-aligned groups are running ads highlighting the posts and national Democrats have been cautious as the campaign heads toward the June 9 primary.