By Sen. John Fetterman is escalating his criticism of Graham Platner, the Democratic front-runner for U.S. Senate in Maine, as the party confronts a growing series of questions about the candidate’s personal conduct and his ability to defeat Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November.
Fetterman, D-Pa., initially took aim at Platner after reports that the Maine candidate used the messaging app Kik to exchange sexually explicit messages with multiple women while married. The Pennsylvania senator has since gone further, telling CNN congressional correspondent Manu Raju that Maine Democratic voters should take another look at Gov. Janet Mills, who suspended her Senate campaign in April but remains on the primary ballot.
“I think what’s time is is for Maine voters to take a look at the sitting governor, an honorable woman, and that is a committed Democrat that’s already won statewide,” Fetterman told Raju.
The latest remarks came after additional reports raised broader questions about Platner’s past relationships with women. One former girlfriend, Lyndsey Fifield, alleged that Platner repeatedly grabbed her hard enough to leave marks, pulled her from a cab by the wrist and, during one argument, twisted her arm behind her back before forcing her into a bedroom and preventing her from leaving.
Fifield, who dated Platner for roughly two years beginning in 2013, told The New York Times that Platner never punched or struck her. She nevertheless described his conduct as physically intimidating and said the incidents left her shaken.
Platner has denied the allegations of physical misconduct, calling them false and politically motivated. His campaign has also emphasized Fifield’s work with conservative organizations and Republican political campaigns.
“Throughout this campaign, I’ve been open about what was a very dark period of my life where I struggled with undiagnosed PTSD, too often self-medicated with alcohol, and was a far from perfect boyfriend,” Platner said in a statement. “I take responsibility for all of that, and wish I had been better.”
“Any characterization beyond that is false, and I believe, politically motivated,” he added.
The Times also reported that other women who previously dated Platner offered sharply different assessments of his character. Some described volatile relationships, heavy drinking or infidelity, while three former partners spoke positively of him and described him as caring and charming.
The allegations surfaced days after Platner’s campaign was already under scrutiny over sexually explicit messages reportedly sent to multiple women during the early stages of his marriage. Platner acknowledged making mistakes after marrying his wife, Amy Gertner, but said the couple addressed the issue privately and strengthened their relationship.
“At the beginning of our marriage, I made mistakes, and Amy helped me be accountable for them, and we worked through them,” Platner said during an interview with MS NOW host Chris Hayes.
The controversy has placed renewed attention on Platner’s reported use of Kik, a messaging application that allows users to communicate through usernames rather than publicly sharing phone numbers or email addresses. The platform supports private messages, group chats and the sharing of photographs, videos and other content. Its relative anonymity has also made it a recurring subject of online-safety concerns.
CNN previously verified the existence of a Kik account under the username “phustle0331” that appeared to be connected to Platner. The account reportedly featured a photograph of Platner shirtless with a towel wrapped around his waist. Kik was once a widely used messaging platform but has faced scrutiny over its association with inappropriate and illegal content, allegedly to underage children. Platner’s campaign has described the matter as a private issue between Platner and his wife that occurred early in their marriage and was being addressed.
Fetterman referenced the account directly while questioning Platner’s judgment.
“Oh, phustle,” he said. “What kind of a creep? What kind of a creeper has been on … a platform like Kik, and send a dozen explicit kinds of messages and who knows what else?”
🚨INSANE: Graham Platner maintained a sexually-suggestive profile on 'Predator's Paradise' app known for child exploitation.
He operated under the pseudonym "phustle0331." pic.twitter.com/9set8DRBKB
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) May 30, 2026
“What kind of a creeper has been on a platform like Kik,” Fetterman said in another exchange. “All I’m saying, it’s like, when I was growing up, if someone had a clear Nazi tattoo on them, you probably could conclude that they are a Nazi sympathizer.”
The tattoo reference concerned a skull-and-crossbones image previously displayed on Platner’s chest that resembled the Totenkopf, a symbol associated with Nazi SS units. Platner has said he obtained the tattoo while serving overseas and did not understand its meaning at the time. He has since covered it.
Fifield has challenged that explanation, telling the Times that Platner referred to the tattoo years earlier as “my Totenkopf.” Platner has denied knowingly displaying a Nazi-associated symbol and rejected Fifield’s account.
The controversy presents a difficult political problem for Democrats. Platner, a Marine veteran and oyster farmer who built a national following with a populist campaign, emerged as the likely nominee after Mills suspended her campaign. He has received support from prominent Democrats and progressive figures, including Sen. Bernie Sanders.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also endorsed Platner after meeting with him in Washington this week, emphasizing the importance of defeating Collins as Democrats seek to regain control of the Senate.
Fetterman has taken a markedly different approach. Although he initially stopped short of explicitly calling on Platner to leave the race, his latest remarks represent a clear break with Democrats who have rallied behind the candidate.
“No surprise,” Fetterman said after the latest allegations surfaced. “The interesting part will be how those who endorsed him will respond to this.”
NEW: Senator John Fetterman slams fellow Democrat and embattled Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner following a string of damaging personal controversies.
"Well, he lied to everybody. He said that there wasn't any after his Nazi tattoo situation, and now there's more and more… pic.twitter.com/bacJZN8fl8
— Fox News (@FoxNews) June 4, 2026
Collins, a longtime incumbent who has cultivated a moderate image during her Senate career, is seeking a sixth term. She is essentially the Republican that Democrats claim they wish all Republicans would be like. Maine is widely viewed as one of the most important battlegrounds in the fight for control of the chamber.
The Democratic primary is scheduled for June 9. Mills suspended her campaign on April 30 after struggling to overcome Platner’s advantage among primary voters, but her name remains on the ballot.
Platner has shown no indication that he plans to withdraw. His campaign maintains that voters should focus on his policy agenda rather than controversies involving his personal life.
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