Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner is facing a new round of scrutiny after a series of archived social media posts resurfaced online, adding to ongoing questions about his past conduct as he prepares to challenge Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) in November.
The posts, recovered from a former Reddit account attributed to Platner and preserved through internet archives in spite of attempts to scrub it, contain graphic jokes, sexually explicit comments, controversial political views and remarks about military veterans that critics argue raise fresh concerns about his judgment.
One of the most widely circulated posts dates back to 2014, when Platner allegedly responded to a Reddit thread asking users to share the most offensive jokes they knew. Using the username “P-Hustle,” he posted a crude joke involving incest, bestiality and necrophilia.
In another post, he reportedly made a remark about associating the smell of portable toilets with masturbation. In another, he praised a drawing of male genitalia using graphic language.
A separate post from 2013 has also attracted attention. Responding to a discussion titled “shorts that prevent you from being raped,” Platner criticized people who become intoxicated and later find themselves in unwanted situations.
“Holy [f**k], how about people just take some responsibility for themselves and not get so [f**ked] up they wind up having sex with someone they don’t mean to?” Platner wrote. “Men and women, you make a choice to consume enough of a substance to lose your self control. So if you don’t want to be in a compromising situation, act like an adult for [f**ks] sake.”
The resurfaced material extends beyond crude humor and sexual commentary. Archived discussions reportedly show Platner describing his ideological journey toward communism, expressing admiration for Hamas military tactics and making comments directed at a Purple Heart recipient that some critics viewed as dismissive or hostile toward wounded veterans.
The latest revelations arrive amid broader scrutiny of Platner’s personal history.
Former girlfriend Lyndsey Fifield has publicly accused Platner of abusive and controlling behavior during their relationship. According to her account, Platner allegedly left bruises on her wrists during physical confrontations, locked her in a room following arguments and once forcibly removed her from a taxi during a dispute. Platner has denied allegations of abuse.
Separate reports have also alleged that Platner exchanged sexually explicit messages with multiple women during the early years of his marriage.
Questions have additionally resurfaced regarding a tattoo Platner once displayed featuring the Totenkopf, or “death’s head,” a symbol historically associated with Nazi organizations. Platner later covered the tattoo with new artwork and has said it was never intended as an endorsement of extremist ideology.
Further attention has been directed toward a profile on the messaging platform Kik that reportedly used a username similar to Platner’s and featured a photograph of a man identified as Platner wearing only a towel. The platform has faced criticism over the years from child-safety advocates because of its use by online predators, though nothing has emerged linking Platner to any criminal activity involving the service.
The controversy comes as Democrats attempt to unseat Collins, who has represented Maine in the Senate since 1997 and remains one of the GOP’s most durable incumbents.
Despite the growing list of controversies, Platner secured the Democratic nomination earlier this month.
