Graham Platner Acknowledges Sexting Shortly After Marriage, Denies ‘Politically Motivated’ Claims of Ex-Girlfriend Misconduct

In a candid admission on Thursday, Democratic Senate contender from Maine, Graham Platner, acknowledged engaging in sexting with other women shortly after tying the knot with his wife. However, he firmly rejected accusations of abuse made by a former girlfriend, dismissing them as politically charged fabrications.

“I made mistakes at the start of our marriage,” Platner confessed during his first significant interview since reports surfaced in the Wall Street Journal. The publication had revealed that Platner exchanged sexually explicit messages with up to twelve women following his 2023 marriage to Amy Gertner.

During an appearance on MS NOW’s “All in with Chris Hayes,” Platner explained, “It stopped when it was happening.” The former oyster farmer and Marine veteran admitted to beginning these exchanges “soon after we got married,” emphasizing that he and his wife addressed the issue early on, and it ceased thereafter.

Platner is in the midst of a campaign to unseat Maine’s longtime Republican Senator Susan Collins. His candidacy faced additional scrutiny following a New York Times report that recounted allegations from former girlfriends. They accused Platner of abusive behavior and harbored a strong disdain for women.

The ex-girlfriends characterized Platner as a man who “hated women,” showed a lack of respect toward them, and used derogatory terms such as “hatchet wounds” in reference to women.

His exes described Platner as someone who “hated women,” “does not respect women,” and would refer to them as “hatchet wounds.”

One woman, Lyndsey Fifield, alleged that Platner once twisted her during an argument and shoved her in a bedroom, refusing to let her out until she was “calm.”

Platner said Fifield’s allegation “did not” happen.

“Anything alleging physicality, anything alleging that I knew what my tattoo was – these are the statements of someone who’s politically motivated,” he told Hayes.

“Those serious allegations are just not true.”

When asked point-blank if Fifield – a Republican campaign worker from Virginia – was lying, Platner responded, “Yes. That is not true.”

Platner is expected to secure the Democratic nomination on June 9, having no serious opponent after Maine Gov. Janet Mills dropped out of the race April 30.

He also holds a 7.4% edge over Collins in general election polling, according to a RealClearPolitics average of surveys.