Overview
- The New York Times published the report Thursday drawing on interviews with six former partners and other sources who described volatile behavior by Platner during past relationships.
- One former partner, Lyndsey Fifield, told reporters that Platner grabbed her shoulders hard enough to leave marks, twisted her arm, shoved her into a bedroom and held the door closed during an argument.
- Platner and his campaign strongly deny any physical intimidation and call the most serious claims false and politically motivated while he has acknowledged past problems with PTSD, alcohol and being a flawed partner.
- The Times’ account also challenges Platner’s prior explanation for a chest tattoo linked to a Nazi Totenkopf symbol, and earlier reporting said his wife informed campaign staff last year that he exchanged sexually explicit messages with other women.
- Democrats remain split after the report with some senators and progressive leaders still backing Platner and others expressing concern, a division that matters because the June 9 primary and the July 13 replacement window could affect the party’s chance to flip Sen. Susan Collins’s seat.