Chuck Schumer stands by Graham Platner despite controversy: ‘We’re going to beat Susan Collins’

WASHINGTON, DC: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer made it clear on Tuesday, June 2, that he has no plans to distance himself from Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner despite a wave of damaging headlines that have engulfed the campaign in recent weeks.

Facing repeated questions from reporters during a tense news conference in Washington, Schumer stood firmly behind the embattled candidate and brushed aside suggestions that Democrats should consider another option ahead of the race against incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins.

Chuck Schumer backs Graham Platner despite controversy

As questions mounted about Platner's recent controversies, Schumer repeatedly delivered the same message. “I met with Graham Platner today. We’re going to beat Susan Collins and take back the Senate,” Schumer told reporters. 

The Senate Democratic leader appeared unwilling to entertain discussions about alternative candidates, even as reporters pressed him on the growing scrutiny surrounding Platner.

Schumer had initially thrown his support behind Maine Governor Janet Mills for the Senate race. However, after Mills suspended her campaign, the Democratic leader shifted his backing to Platner.

Despite Mills suspending her bid, her name remains on the ballot for Maine's June 9 Senate primary.

Reporters questioned Schumer about the unusual situation and whether it could complicate the race moving forward. Rather than elaborate, Schumer stuck to a brief response.

“I endorsed Graham Platner,” he said, declining to engage further on Mills' lingering presence on the ballot.

The remarks came shortly after Platner met with Senate Democrats on Capitol Hill, indicating that party leadership remains committed to his candidacy despite the controversy swirling around him.

Personal allegations fuel scrutiny of Graham Platner

Platner's appearance in Washington followed a series of reports detailing alleged communications with multiple women while he was married.

According to reports, his wife, Amy Gertner, approached a former campaign aide last year regarding the incidents. Genevieve McDonald, who previously served as a political director for the campaign, later confirmed that conversation.

Despite the attention generated by the reports, both Platner and Gertner have pushed back strongly against the coverage.

The couple characterized the allegations as "gossip" while also acknowledging that they sought marriage counseling last year. Gertner publicly defended her husband and dismissed suggestions that the reports changed how she viewed him.

“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 told The New York Times.

The controversy has nevertheless become a major distraction for Platner's campaign as he attempts to keep the focus on the race against Collins.

Past online posts haunt Graham Platner

Alongside the reports about his personal life, attention has also turned toward Graham Platner's past online activity.

Reports indicated that Platner maintained a profile on the messaging platform Kik as recently as this week. The account reportedly featured a profile image showing him wrapped in a white towel.

Observers also linked the profile's username to an older Reddit account where Platner allegedly posted a number of profane and controversial remarks years ago.

One post from 2013 drew particular attention after being resurfaced during the campaign.

“How about people just take some responsibility for themselves and not get so f*cked up they wind up getting involved with someone they don’t mean to?” Platner wrote at the time.

In an advertisement released by his campaign, Platner addressed the controversy directly and attempted to distance himself from remarks he made years ago. “These are words and statements I abhor,” Platner said.

The candidate acknowledged the comments while urging voters to focus on who he is today rather than on online statements made more than a decade ago. “So, Maine, I’m asking you not to judge me for the worst thing I said on the internet on my worst day 14 years ago, but who I am today,” he added.