Bernie Sanders stands by Graham Platner amid scandal, says he's 'getting through' marriage problems

WASHINGTON, DC: Sen Bernie Sanders is standing firmly behind Democratic Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner despite reports that he sent inappropriate messages to several women while married.

The Vermont independent made it clear on Monday, June 1, that he has no plans to withdraw his endorsement of the progressive newcomer, even as scrutiny over Platner's personal life continues to grow.

Bernie Sanders 'certainly not' reconsidering Graham Platner endorsement 

“He’s prepared to take on the big-money interests. He believes that health care is a human right, not a privilege. Now, does he have problems in his marriage? Well, you’re going to have to ask his wife Amy. My understanding is that they’ve had problems in their marriage, they’re getting through that,” Sanders told reporters, as per The Hill. 

The senator argued that voters are more concerned with policy than a candidate's marital issues.

“But I think what the people of this country and the people of Maine are interested in is how we’re going to have a government that represents all of us, addresses the many crises that we face, not the marriage problems of a candidate,” the veteran politician expressed.

When a reporter followed up by asking whether Platner's alleged “moral failings” could undermine Sanders' efforts to reform health care and tackle income inequality, the senator appeared visibly frustrated.

“Moral failings – have you talked to his wife? Why don’t you find out by his marriage by talking – his wife has made a statement,” Sanders said.

“His wife is his family,” he added before ending the exchange.

Earlier Monday, Sanders also told a reporter for MS NOW in the Senate subway ahead of a vote that he was “certainly not” reconsidering his backing of Platner, who is scheduled to meet with Senate Democrats on Tuesday.

Graham Platner's wife says marriage is ‘stronger than ever before’

As questions swirl around the allegations, Platner's wife, Amy Gertner, has repeatedly defended both her husband and their marriage.

Gertner told both The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal that their marriage “is stronger than ever before.”

In a video posted on the campaign's social media accounts, she sought to reinforce that message. "I just really wanted to make sure that everyone knows that Graham and I have a great marriage," Gertner said.

She acknowledged the challenges the couple has faced since getting married, including infertility struggles and the demands of a Senate campaign.

"Being married is hard," she said. "Being newly married is hard. Being newly married and going through infertility is hard. Being newly married, going through infertility and a Senate campaign is hard. I don't even know if I have the right words to describe what we've been going through, but our marriage counselor helps, my personal counselor helps, Graham's personal counselor helps and we work on our mental health every day. No marriage is perfect."

In an earlier statement released Saturday through the Platner campaign, Gertner said the couple had undergone counseling and that their relationship today "is stronger than ever before."

“I know who Graham is. I know the man I married and the husband he has been to me on the best and the worst days of my life. That hasn’t changed, and it won’t,” she said.

Gertner also claimed that private details about their relationship had been shared with others after she confided in an unnamed campaign staffer.

"I trusted this person with the most private chapter of our lives — the early days of our marriage before any campaign was on our mind — and I am deeply hurt by her betrayal and the invasion of our privacy," she wrote.

A campaign already mired in controversy

Platner, a Marine Corps veteran with no prior political experience, has emerged as one of the more talked-about candidates in the race since launching his campaign against incumbent Republican Sen Susan Collins. 

The candidate has already weathered several controversies during his bid for office.

Earlier in the campaign, Platner faced intense backlash after it was revealed that he had a tattoo on his chest resembling a Na*i symbol. He said he received the tattoo while serving in the military in his 20s and did not understand its significance at the time. The tattoo has since been covered.

Additional scrutiny centered on comments Platner made before entering the Senate race. He previously referred to himself as a “communist” and described police as “bastards.”

During an earlier interview with CNN, Platner disavowed those remarks.