Democratic operatives commissioned a background check on Graham Platner before his Senate campaign, which reportedly cost $6,250 and took three days to complete. This decision is now facing scrutiny as Platner is confronted with a rape allegation from one former girlfriend and allegations of abusive behavior from another, which he denies. Additionally, he has been criticized for a tattoo linked to Nazi symbolism and for sending explicit texts while married.
The background check did not reveal these issues, although some controversial items were noted. Platner has apologized for past comments made on a now-deleted Reddit account, where he expressed views on military personnel and other sensitive topics, attributing his remarks to psychological trauma from his military service.
Despite calls from prominent Democrats to withdraw from the race, Platner has not yet decided to step down. He stated that he is reflecting on the best path forward for his campaign and the state of Maine. If he withdraws before July 13, the Democratic Party could potentially find a replacement candidate.