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164. Maine Senate candidate downplayed sexual assault concerns in deleted posts

Thu Jan 22, 2026, 12:28 PM

Jan 22

Democrat Graham Platner disavowed the comments in an interview with The Washington Post, saying, “I don’t want people to judge me off the dumbest thing I said on the internet 12 years ago.”

Maine Senate candidate downplayed sexual assault concerns in deleted posts - The Washington Post

www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
— Susan Pennington (@spennington.bsky.social) 2025-10-18T03:05:36.162Z

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/10/17/graham-platner-sexual-assault-comments-senate-midterms/

In a separate thread about a video promoting underwear designed to prevent rape, Platner urged people to avoid alcohol so they don’t end up in a dangerous situation.

“Rape is a real thing,” he wrote. “If you’re so worried about it to buy Kevlar underwear you’d think you might not get blacked out f----d up around people you aren’t comfortable with.”

The posts, which were obtained by The Washington Post and verified using an archive of deleted Reddit comments, are part of a large cache of online messages that were deleted shortly before Platner launched his insurgent bid to defeat Republican Sen. Susan Collins in Maine. CNN first reported that the oyster farmer and Marine Corps combat veteran ridiculed rural White Mainers as “actually” racist and stupid in 2020 and described himself as a communist on the platform. On Friday, Platner’s political director resigned, saying in a resignation letter his online comments "are not words or values I can stand behind in a candidate for the United States Senate.”

Platner disavowed the comments in a Friday interview with The Post that marked his first public remarks on the posts about sexual assault. He said he was at a low point in his life in 2013 after returning from a fourth deployment to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Feeling “utterly lost and isolated,” he said, he sought community on sometimes “toxic” corners of Reddit as he battled post-traumatic stress disorder that he was then not receiving treatment for......

One of Platner’s 2013 comments was a reply to a user who defended the need for the “anti-rape” shorts. “There’s always that story about the girl who gets raped because she drank too much and somebody took advantage of that,” that commenter wrote.

“How about people just take some responsibility for themselves and not get so f----d up they wind up having sex with someone they don’t mean to?” Platner said in reply. “Men and women, you make a choice to consume enough of a substance to lose your self control. So if you don’t want to be in a [compromising] situation, act like an adult for f---s sake.”

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Meet Graham Platner. Here is one white guy who can help save the Democratic Party from itself, imho. [View all] ariadne0614 Jan 20 OP

Question JustAnotherGen Jan 20 #1

I guess you didn't watch the interview. n/t ariadne0614 Jan 20 #3

use your gut berksdem Jan 20 #6

Watch the interview, or not. ariadne0614 Jan 20 #8

I already watched it thanks. berksdem Jan 20 #10

I do hold him accountable, and his responses to tough questions impressed me. ariadne0614 Jan 20 #17

I HAVE watched the entire interview JustAnotherGen Jan 21 #144

I have often said that only Black women can save us, and consider Jasmine Crockett a national treasure. ariadne0614 Jan 21 #150

His Reddit posts were discussed, but please explain how to look them up with one's guts. n/t ariadne0614 Jan 20 #21

don't get mad berksdem Jan 20 #24

Autumn is on my side, and you're mistaking enthusiasm for swooning. ariadne0614 Jan 20 #32

JFC berksdem Jan 20 #48

Calm down. ariadne0614 Jan 20 #60

I've never in my life heard any self-described "radical feminist" say that an average white guy had "potent magic" but WhiskeyGrinder Jan 20 #52

I am a wonderment, it is true. n/t ariadne0614 Jan 20 #108

This Magic Moment 🎶 sheshe2 Jan 21 #127

Post removed Post removed Jan 20 #65

I appreciate your terror. ariadne0614 Jan 20 #97

I don't trust anyone's judgement who advocates for public hangings or private hangings Buckeyeblue Jan 21 #123

That didn't work in 1877 to 1965 JustAnotherGen Jan 22 #162

I agree with your concerns but we should note he did get the Nazi tattoo covered up/removed LymphocyteLover Jan 22 #158

Not good enough for me JustAnotherGen Jan 22 #165

Understood... sorry LymphocyteLover Jan 22 #166

Nope fuck this guy. His judgment is shit. WhiskeyGrinder Jan 20 #2

You do you. ariadne0614 Jan 20 #7

I listened to him and I am fine with his explaations. I like him. Young and has gotten his Autumn Jan 20 #11

Thank you Autumn. ariadne0614 Jan 20 #14

As for the tattoo nonsense I have known many young people who have tattoos that Autumn Jan 20 #16

He's got some potent magic. n/t ariadne0614 Jan 20 #22

Getting a Nazi death head tattoo is bad, leaving it on for over decade is worse IMO EX500rider Jan 20 #55

And he explained the tattoo he and his fellow soldiers got. nt Autumn Jan 20 #58

Again getting a Nazi SS tattoo while drunk on leave is one thing, leaving it there for over a decade is another IMO YMMV EX500rider Jan 20 #62

Yah, if all the other soldiers are doing it, it must be okay! betsuni Jan 20 #67

You may not know this but men who serve together have a tight bond. nt Autumn Jan 20 #72

No ne in my family in the military ever got a Nazi tat obamanut2012 Jan 20 #80

When he found out it was a nazi tattoo he had it covered. So AFAIC that's the end of that. Autumn Jan 20 #85

So he had a Nazi tattoo for 18 years and didn't know what it was till the press pointed it out? Seems unlikely EX500rider Jan 22 #167

This is an awfully slippery slope nt mr715 Jan 20 #81

So, you know people who got Nazi tats and still have them over a decade later? obamanut2012 Jan 20 #79

You are doing exactly what the RW does obamanut2012 Jan 20 #78

I'm lost on this one. ariadne0614 Jan 20 #110

Bernie has been wrong before. I don't trust anyone with a Nazi tattoo and posts online that reinforce that. mucholderthandirt Jan 21 #124

I'm sorry if I left the impression that I expect anyone, including myself, to ignore his past. ariadne0614 Jan 21 #136

He discredited himself quite well Blue_Adept Jan 21 #133

This message was self-deleted by its author PeaceWave Jan 20 #75

I like Democrats who don't have Nazi problems in their past, personally. tritsofme Jan 20 #4

If I thought for one minute he was a Nazi, I wouldn't have posted the interview. ariadne0614 Jan 20 #12

Plenty of posts about him here MichMan Jan 20 #25

Thanks. ariadne0614 Jan 20 #29

Did you read the other posts by now? MichMan Jan 21 #153

It wasn't just a "past" problem.... TommyT139 Jan 20 #43

The "establishment" lol awesomerwb1 Jan 20 #5

Actually, if I lived in Maine, I'd work my heart out for him. n/t ariadne0614 Jan 20 #26

Good for you. I'm sure questionable people like this crazy dude need the money awesomerwb1 Jan 20 #30

It's seriously difficult to imagine watching this interview and concluding he's crazy. ariadne0614 Jan 20 #31

It's not. Do you like his Nazi tattoo as well? awesomerwb1 Jan 20 #33

Is that a serious question? ariadne0614 Jan 20 #36

lol Of course he's gonna "own up" awesomerwb1 Jan 20 #38

Because Trump has made owning up all the fashion on the Nazi side of the equation. ariadne0614 Jan 20 #63

He did plenty of stupid stuff when he was over 30, too. WhiskeyGrinder Jan 20 #64

He isn't just turning 21! mr715 Jan 20 #82

It's cute how you think you're the first one to "introduce" awesomerwb1 Jan 20 #66

His opponent, Janet Mills: Jack Valentino Jan 21 #120

I'm sure they would make me cringe. ariadne0614 Jan 20 #70

"This doesn't sound like something your average Nazi would do." lol what WhiskeyGrinder Jan 20 #51

as if he and his mommy aren't the establishment thebigidea Jan 20 #89

Remember when Fetterman was the be all to save all..... Historic NY Jan 20 #9

My gut told me from the beginning that there was something off about Fetterman. ariadne0614 Jan 20 #13

So you didn't agree with the judgement of Sanders regarding Fetterman but say we should trust his judgement here? W_HAMILTON Jan 20 #44

I never once saw him that way. I saw him clearly for what he is. Autumn Jan 20 #23

I'm more impressed... 2naSalit Jan 20 #15

I'm sure Governor Mills is a fine person. ariadne0614 Jan 20 #19

Are you... 2naSalit Jan 20 #20

No, I'm just an American who would love to see Democrats take back the Senate. n/t ariadne0614 Jan 20 #27

Age-baiting is so last generation Torchlight Jan 21 #135

What does her age have to do with it? sheshe2 Jan 22 #154

I see your Excellent Post got Cha Jan 22 #173

You are right about the crickets, Cha. sheshe2 Jan 22 #174

I'm 77, and believe wise elders have much to contribute. ariadne0614 Jan 22 #176

Mills is the AIPAC candidate and so whoever the republican nominee will be aipac supported questionseverything Jan 20 #34

Maine Senate Race Moves To Toss Up With Mills' Entrance LetMyPeopleVote Jan 20 #84

He's drawing crowds of elderly people leftstreet Jan 20 #18

Interesting. I didn't use my gut to find information on endorsements. ariadne0614 Jan 20 #28

"...on both sides..." TommyT139 Jan 20 #46

Yes! ariadne0614 Jan 20 #49

I was referring TommyT139 Jan 20 #92

I think its more like, he is the key to ensuring Susan Collins gets another term FascismIsDeath Jan 20 #35

Perhaps not. ariadne0614 Jan 20 #59

Some people say he rzemanfl Jan 20 #37

I don't understand "one white guy who can save the Democratic Party from itself." betsuni Jan 20 #39

In 2007 a Marine Gunnery Sgt. estimated that 92% of about 8,000 Marines rzemanfl Jan 20 #40

You get that it was a very specific skull and crossbones that was a hallmark of the SS, right? Not the Jolly Roger? WhiskeyGrinder Jan 20 #45

I have not seen a picture. Have you? rzemanfl Jan 20 #54

I'm familiar with the totenkopf, and the video and screenshots that went around a lot last October make it clear that's WhiskeyGrinder Jan 20 #57

This tattoo? Quite plainly the SS-Totenkopf tattoo EX500rider Jan 20 #61

Agreed. n/t rzemanfl Jan 20 #68

I agree the tattoo is a Nazi Death Head (totenkopf). rzemanfl Jan 20 #73

Seriously? Cirsium Jan 20 #88

Thank you. rzemanfl Jan 20 #91

Hey, thanks for listening in good faith. WhiskeyGrinder Jan 20 #100

Maybe the tattooist rzemanfl Jan 20 #109

Lot's of Yugoslav's fought on the German side EX500rider Jan 22 #168

They said the same about John Fetterman. W_HAMILTON Jan 20 #41

This message was self-deleted by its author PeaceWave Jan 20 #42

I doubt his crowds are "Genocide Joe" people leftstreet Jan 20 #47

Another start at the top political con. delisen Jan 20 #50

If I recall the same views were expressed how Fetterman was the "great liberal hope" over the "establishment" lostincalifornia Jan 20 #53

I don't live in Maine mountain grammy Jan 20 #56

I do live in Maine chelsea0011 Jan 20 #93

Thank you for your response. I have a couple of questions. mountain grammy Jan 20 #95

It's not my district chelsea0011 Jan 22 #155

Thank you. mountain grammy Jan 22 #172

All that matters to me right now is winning elections BannonsLiver Jan 20 #69

Judging from only this one interview, I think he would agree with you. n/t ariadne0614 Jan 20 #71

This is why we have primaries. nt mr715 Jan 20 #74

He is problematic. mr715 Jan 20 #76

lol no, I want someone without Nazi tats, who doesn't hit women and who didn't work as a mercenary obamanut2012 Jan 20 #77

MaddowBlog-Maine's Graham Platner faces difficult questions about his record -- and a tattoo LetMyPeopleVote Jan 20 #83

This post, on its own, would give pause to any reasonable voter. ariadne0614 Jan 20 #113

I watched the entire video, I like him. Americanme Jan 20 #86

I don't believe in saviors, I believe in passing legislation that helps my family thebigidea Jan 20 #87

I don't believe in saviors either. ariadne0614 Jan 20 #105

Curious MorbidButterflyTat Jan 20 #90

If Democrats win back the Senate, the pressure will come from fed up We the People. n/t ariadne0614 Jan 20 #94

Do you truly believe that tsf would actually sign it or... sheshe2 Jan 20 #104

Yup, we need both the House and Senate. n/t ariadne0614 Jan 20 #114

That's not enough if the president won't sign it. sheshe2 Jan 21 #118

Call me delusional, but if our side regains the Senate and House, then anything is possible if ariadne0614 Jan 20 #103

Sorry. This is the kind of unicorn thinking that turned me off of the Sanders movement. Blasphemer Jan 21 #121

History mr715 Jan 21 #140

Could be the right messenger at the right time + the cumulative decades of effort. ariadne0614 Jan 21 #145

Could be, but you don't need to be a Senator to lead. mr715 Jan 21 #146

I guess we'll find out soon enough. ariadne0614 Jan 21 #148

The DSCC and Janet Mills have formed a joint fundraising committee together. LetMyPeopleVote Jan 20 #96

Sincere question. ariadne0614 Jan 20 #99

I am Jewish and have an issue with someone with a NAZI tattoo LetMyPeopleVote Jan 20 #107

I have deep respect your preference. ariadne0614 Jan 20 #112

These tattoos are a big issue LetMyPeopleVote Jan 22 #163

I don't understand the "one white guy" headline. Was that in an article or something? marmar Jan 20 #98

Fair question. ariadne0614 Jan 20 #101

Look up stories from last year about his choice of tattoos. Iggo Jan 21 #129

I'll be voting for Janet Mill's in the primary. If your candidate wins, I will vote for him. OAITW r.2.0 Jan 20 #102

Makes perfect sense to me. n/t ariadne0614 Jan 20 #106

Ranked Choice voting,,,,democracy in action. OAITW r.2.0 Jan 20 #111

I'm all in favor of ranked choice voting. ariadne0614 Jan 20 #115

Gov. MAGA Paul got elected in Maine when 60+% voted for two other candidates..... OAITW r.2.0 Jan 20 #116

Oh boy! Let the rebranding begin! Iggo Jan 20 #117

Still? Really? Has Trump taught us nothing. Gimme a break. nt Blasphemer Jan 21 #119

Running against the Democratic Party: Establishment beholden to corporate interests ignore working class, both sides. betsuni Jan 21 #122

Dude had a nazi tattoo on his chest for years. Got called out last year and covered it up. Iggo Jan 21 #128

Only got called out because there was a video of him running around shirtless during a wedding reception that surfaced MichMan Jan 21 #130

Indeed! I'm so fucking done with that BS-- even if it sadly gets votes. LymphocyteLover Jan 22 #159

Looking at his background, I would venture he's a Repub plant Just_Vote_Dem Jan 21 #125

I expect more will be revealed during the primary process. ariadne0614 Jan 22 #157

I'm guessing there's more than one... whathehell Jan 21 #126

You're absolutely right. ariadne0614 Jan 21 #131

I take issue with a repeated point you are making. mr715 Jan 21 #139

Thanks for the opportunity to clarify. ariadne0614 Jan 21 #147

Thank you for taking the time to reply. mr715 Jan 21 #149

You're welcome, and I share your willingness to be wrong. n/t ariadne0614 Jan 21 #152

Is this a trial balloon or is this the actual roll-out? Iggo Jan 21 #141

It would surprise me if you thought he was intellectually deficient if you listened to the interview. ariadne0614 Jan 21 #142

Belief that working class are white men (who Democrats are accused of ignoring in favor of "identity politics"): betsuni Jan 21 #143

nazi tattoo + Blackwater employment nope waddirum Jan 21 #132

I appreciate your input. ariadne0614 Jan 21 #134

it's on his wiki page EX500rider Jan 21 #137

Thank you very much. ariadne0614 Jan 21 #138

The guy with the Nazi tattoo and racial slurs? RandySF Jan 21 #151

If you are correct, rhen another Fetterman would be very bad. ariadne0614 Jan 22 #156

We will soon get to see how a 77-year-old middle of the road woman stands up to ICE. rzemanfl Jan 22 #160

I love the variety of insights and perspectives on DU. ariadne0614 Jan 22 #161

He looked at that tattoo in the mirror for 18 years and did nothing about it until he was called out last year. Iggo Jan 22 #169

I wasn't talking about him. I was talking about other inebriated GIs. rzemanfl Jan 22 #170

Maine Senate candidate downplayed sexual assault concerns in deleted posts LetMyPeopleVote Jan 22 #164

If you like white guys from Maine who run in Democratic Primaries Quiet Em Jan 22 #171

My preference is dynamic women like Jasmine Crockett and AOC, ariadne0614 Jan 22 #175

Statement of Governor Mills on Federal agents killing another person in Minnesota LetMyPeopleVote Jan 25 #177

The Democratic Party Boo1 Jan 25 #178