Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) acknowledged Sunday that the latest allegations against Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner did not catch Pine Tree State voters off guard, as the campaign faces mounting scrutiny over past behavior.
Appearing on CBS News's "Face the Nation," Khanna was pressed by host Margaret Brennan about his continued support for Platner, an oyster farmer and progressive challenger to Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine). The interview came after The New York Times reported on a range of accounts from former girlfriends, describing Platner as both caring and, at times, "toxic."
Khanna called Platner's actions "shameful" and "wrong," but argued they were not a revelation to Maine voters. "People in Maine knew that he had two tours of duty in Iraq," Khanna said. "He came back broken and in a dark place. That doesn't excuse his behavior, but they knew this."
The California progressive emphasized that Platner "took accountability" for his past, and drew a red line: "If there was evidence of violence, I would not support him if there was evidence of sexual assault. I'd have zero support for him."
Brennan pressed Khanna on a specific account from Lyndsey Fifield, who dated Platner and posted on social media about an incident where she said he left an AR-15 in his Washington, D.C., apartment and allegedly told her, "If anyone broke in, he'd rape them to show he's dominant." Khanna said he believes Fifield and cautioned against attacking her. "Yes, and I don't think our side should be attacking her, and I appreciate her courage in coming forward," he said. "I know some people are saying, 'Oh, she's a Republican.' I think that is irrelevant."
The controversy is the latest in a series of scandals that have rattled Democrats in the critical Maine Senate race. Platner has previously apologized for inflammatory Reddit posts and addressed claims that a chest tattoo resembled a Nazi symbol, which he later covered up. The mounting scandals have prompted some Democrats to worry about the party's chances against Collins, a four-term incumbent.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Platner sent sexually explicit text messages to multiple women, texts later discovered by his wife, Amy Gertner. She has defended her husband, calling the coverage "shameful." Platner, in a Friday statement, thanked supporters who "had my back" through the disclosure of past statements made during a period of PTSD and recovery.
Khanna reiterated that the Times report reflected "a dark period of his life" and that Maine voters he has met "don't like it" but "knew that he had these chapters." He added, "They are willing to extend him grace and redemption, and their focus now on what he's running for. But I do not think we should be attacking her."
The race remains a top target for national Democrats, but some analysts have cast doubt on Platner's lead as the scandals continue to unfold.
