An adviser to Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner warned a former aide, Genevieve McDonald, that she would be accused of lying and sabotage if she cooperated with news outlets reporting on sexually explicit messages Platner sent to women. The warning was communicated through an intermediary and was reviewed by the Bangor Daily News. Morris Katz, a strategist with the Platner campaign, sent the message after McDonald spoke to The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, which published stories about the messages flagged by Platner's wife last summer.
Katz's message stated that if the story was published as it was, they would publicly claim that McDonald violated the trust of Platner and his wife, Amy, and shared falsehoods to undermine the campaign. The Platner campaign confirmed the existence of the messages and stated that Platner had communicated with up to six women, which they considered a private matter addressed in counseling.
This controversy arises as Platner approaches a general election against U.S. Senator Susan Collins. Platner has gained support among progressives since launching his campaign last summer. McDonald, who previously served as Platner's political director, resigned amid reports of Platner's past remarks and was offered $15,000 to sign a non-disclosure agreement, which she declined.
Katz, who also advises New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, responded to the media reports, emphasizing that the details of Platner's marriage should not be public. McDonald’s resignation letter expressed her disapproval of Platner's past statements, which she claimed were unknown to her when she joined the campaign. The campaign has positioned Platner's wife as the spokesperson for their response, with a video released in which she discussed their marriage and criticized the media coverage.
