WASHINGTON — Sen. John Fetterman made clear Monday that he is sharply at odds with Bernie Sanders.
The Pennsylvania Democrat criticized Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Monday night for supporting Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, arguing that warning signs about Platner’s alleged conduct were already apparent.
“I would really call Bernie Sanders to apologize for pushing this kind of predator more than anyone,” Fetterman said on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle,” speaking hours after Jenny Racicot, a former girlfriend of Platner, alleged that he broke into her home and raped her in 2021.
Fetterman said Sanders should “apologize to the victims, especially the woman that — she claimed that he raped her.”
“I don’t know why you want to keep pushing these kinds of people,” Fetterman added, directing the remark at Sanders. “Maybe he should consider [sitting] a few out and stop pushing these kind of communists.”
Fetterman also took aim at Democrats who, he said, have repeatedly backed controversial figures. “I know Democrats that have, you know, back-to-back endorsed and got all in on [disgraced former Rep. Eric] Swalwell and were on the Platner train as well, too,” he said. “So, maybe stop, you know, getting [in] bed with absolute dirt bags, someone like Platner.”
Sanders was one of Platner’s first prominent supporters, endorsing him in August of last year soon after Platner entered what was widely viewed as an uphill Senate race.
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By Tuesday morning, Sanders had not followed other Democrats — including fellow progressive Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) — in withdrawing his endorsement. His office did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
“I’m sure he’s not a saint,” Sanders told CNN last month after another former girlfriend, Lyndsey Fifield, accused Platner of physical abuse.
“He went through some very bloody and horrible situations,” Sanders went on. “He has acknowledged that he came back with PTSD. He’s had his share of problems.”
By contrast, Fetterman denounced Platner early and often, mockingly referring to him as “P-Hustle,” the Reddit username under which Platner made a series of wild and offensive posts.
Among those were suggestions that a Purple Heart veteran deserved to die, defenses of urinating on dead Taliban fighters, and assertions that sexual assault victims should “take some responsibility.”
Platner has denied the allegations by Racicot, but said Monday he was considering the “best path forward” after canceling several events since Sunday.
“He’s a dead man walking. I don’t know why he’s trying to pretend that he’s not done,” Fetterman said of Planter’s candidacy Monday.
When asked if he had a message for the candidate, Fetterman shot back: “I don’t have anything to say to that trash bag … But now for me, you know, my thoughts are with the poor women that have been brutalized by him. And I want to salute the courage [of] the woman to come forward and all the people that dismissed the women, you know … maybe look in the mirror.”
