Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) is escalating his public feud with embattled Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, offering an unlikely bargain as scrutiny continues to mount over the Democrat’s past online activity and personal conduct.
Appearing on Fox News, the Pennsylvania Democrat challenged Platner to release messages tied to a Kik account that has become a growing source of controversy in his Senate campaign.
Fetterman, known for his trademark hoodies and casual attire, said he would dramatically change his own wardrobe if Platner could clear up lingering questions surrounding the account.
The senator referred to Platner by the username “P-Hustle,” a handle linked to both his acknowledged Reddit activity and a Kik account that has drawn attention in recent weeks.
“P-Hustle, here’s a great chance. You can just prove that all these people that you’re dropping those d–k pics and saying these things to were over 18,” Fetterman said, NYP reported. “I will wear a suit every day in the Senate.”
“You can set the record clear and provide all of those texts and all of those conversations that you were having as a newlywed just before you were going to run for the Senate,” he said, according to the NYP. He added a one-word demand, “Transparency,” noting the platform has faced scrutiny for hosting underage users.
The challenge marks Fetterman’s latest broadside against the Maine Democrat, whom he has repeatedly criticized as revelations about his past continue to surface.
“This is a guy that had a problem with me, how I dress,” Fetterman said during an earlier Fox News appearance. “But he seemed to have no problem posing in a towel at a disgusting website.”
He then challenged Platner to release the conversations if he has “nothing to hide.”
Questions surrounding the Kik account emerged after reports linked it to the username “phustle0331.” Platner’s campaign has acknowledged the account belonged to him, telling The Wall Street Journal that he deleted the app but did not deactivate the profile.
The controversy is only one piece of a widening list of problems confronting Platner’s campaign.
Recent reporting from The New York Times detailed allegations from former girlfriend Lyndsey Fifield, who accused Platner of physically intimidating behavior during their relationship. Platner has denied those allegations and called them politically motivated. (RELATED: Platner Accuser Blasts New York Times: ‘This Really Was A Set Up’)
The candidate has also faced backlash over resurfaced Reddit posts, a now-covered Totenkopf tattoo historically associated with Nazi Germany’s SS, and comments questioning the conduct of late Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle. Platner has apologized for some of the controversies and said he hopes voters judge him based on who he is today rather than mistakes from his past.
Fetterman has become one of the loudest Democrat voices refusing to dismiss the allegations.
“As a Democrat, I’m never going to carry water for a guy that calls an American hero a dumb MFer,” Fetterman said, arguing that the volume of controversies surrounding Platner has become difficult to track.
Despite the growing scrutiny, many prominent Democrats have continued to stand behind the candidate. Sens. Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Chuck Schumer have all backed Platner’s campaign, while Rep. Ro Khanna recently said Platner’s past actions were “misogynistic, shameful, and wrong” but still defended his candidacy.
Platner has repeatedly rejected claims that he engaged in abuse and has accused national media outlets of sensationalizing allegations about his past behavior.
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