Graham Platner, a Democratic candidate for the US Senate in Maine, has strongly denied allegations of abusive behaviour reported in a New York Times article, calling them 'politically motivated'. The article, published on Thursday, includes claims from a former girlfriend, Lyndsey Fifield, who described Platner as physically and verbally abusive during their relationship from 2013 to 2015.
Fifield, a conservative operative who has worked for Republican campaigns, alleged that Platner grabbed her by the shoulders, yanked her out of a taxi, twisted her arm behind her back, and locked her in a bedroom. She also claimed he made disturbing comments about rape and referred to women using a crude term. Platner 'strongly disputes' any physical intimidation, and the Times noted it could not independently corroborate Fifield's account.
In an interview with MS Now's Chris Hayes, Platner said: 'There are some allegations in this piece that are simply not true. Anything alleging physicality, anything alleging I knew what my tattoo was, these are the statements of somebody politically motivated.' He also denied knowing that a tattoo he had was a Nazi symbol, a claim Fifield challenged, saying he had referred to it as 'my Totenkopf' years earlier.
The article also included critical comments from two other women who dated Platner, as well as positive accounts from three others. Platner, a combat veteran, has previously apologised for offensive social media posts. Despite calls for him to withdraw from next week's Democratic primary, he has given no indication of doing so.
