Democratic leaders are refusing to engage with mounting questions surrounding Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner after a new wave of explicit and inflammatory Reddit posts resurfaced just months before the midterm election.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries brushed aside questions from Fox News Digital when asked whether Platner had become a political liability for Democrats.
“I haven’t seen no posts,” Jeffries said.
The controversy centers on thousands of archived Reddit comments linked to Platner’s deleted account, “P-Hustle,” which included graphic sexual remarks, vulgar jokes and inflammatory commentary targeting a wounded combat veteran.
One resurfaced post included Platner joking about masturbating in portable toilets, while another mocked a Purple Heart recipient who was nearly killed in combat.
The growing scandal has placed national Democrats in an increasingly uncomfortable position as Platner moves closer to becoming the party’s likely nominee against longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who endorsed Platner during Maine’s Democratic primary, declined to say whether she would reconsider her support following the latest revelations.
Warren previously defended Platner during a CNBC appearance last month, pointing to his apology and arguing voters should judge “who Graham Platner is today” rather than his past online behavior.
The controversy had already been simmering before the newest posts surfaced.
Earlier scrutiny focused on comments in which Platner appeared to praise Hamas tactics, questioned rape victims’ accountability and made racially charged remarks. Online critics also circulated images of a chest tattoo they claimed resembled Nazi imagery, along with screenshots showing Platner participating in the “r/SocialistRA” subreddit, where he described himself as a communist.
One resurfaced Reddit comment from 2013 read: “Holy f––, how about people just take some responsibility for themselves and not get so f–– up they wind up having sex with someone they don’t mean to?”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also declined repeated questions about the controversy.
Schumer had previously backed Maine Gov. Janet Mills before she exited the race last month amid sagging poll numbers. Platner later said he would not support Schumer remaining Senate Democratic leader, despite describing a recent conversation between the two men as cordial.
