Graham Platner, the presumptive Democratic nominee for Senate in Maine, is facing scrutiny over comments made on his now-deleted Reddit account. These comments include discussions about prostitution overseas and defending men who cheat on their partners while abroad. Platner's posts, dating back to 2012 and 2019, reference both Thai and Latin American prostitution. In one instance, he responded to concerns about Colombian prostitutes by questioning the experience of the commenter with Latin American sex workers.
The controversy has intensified as Platner's Reddit history, which includes derogatory remarks about the U.S. Army and other inflammatory comments, has become a liability in his campaign against incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins. Although the posts do not confirm that Platner engaged with sex workers, they contain crude language and hyperbolic statements.
In a 2012 post, Platner defended infidelity among men while serving abroad, suggesting that such behavior does not impact their professional integrity. He later continued to discuss prostitution in a 2019 post, referencing a tax strategy used by some contractors working overseas. The comments have prompted criticism from various quarters, including the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which claims that Platner's remarks have alarmed Maine voters.
Platner has attributed his past online behavior to psychological trauma from his military service and has expressed regret for his comments, stating that they do not reflect his current character. He has requested that voters judge him based on who he is today rather than on his past online activity.