Fetterman Calls Graham Platner a ‘Creep’ After Extramarital Sexting Allegations

A sexting scandal involving Graham Platner, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Maine, has triggered fresh scrutiny after allegations that he sent sexually explicit text messages to multiple women other than his wife.

Byron York of the Washington Examiner said on Fox News’s The Ingraham Angle that “Public opinion hasn’t caught up — there’s a lot of things we don’t know about this,” adding that “it’s only been a few days” since the allegations surfaced.

CNN

York also questioned the scope of the claims, asking, “Was it six women? Was it 12? How many women were there? And also, what did he say?” as the race for Senate continues to develop.

CNN reported that Sen. John Fetterman, in an interview Tuesday, called Platner a “creep” and linked the controversy to past social media posts, including a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol that Platner has apologized for and covered.

CNN also said Platner did not answer questions about his extramarital sexting scandal as he entered a meeting with Senate Democrats on Tuesday, while his wife, Amy Gertner, said she was “deeply hurt” after details of his messages became public.

In CNN’s account, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said on Tuesday, “We’re going to beat Susan Collins, take back the Senate,” after meeting with Graham Platner as the sexting reports roiled the Maine race.

CNN also quoted Sen. Bernie Sanders, who brushed off the revelations by asking, “Now, why do the richest people in this country want to defeat Graham Platner? That should tell you everything you need to know,” while arguing Platner would “stand up for working people.”

New York Magazine

Fetterman’s criticism sharpened further in CNN’s reporting when he attacked Platner’s alleged presence on the messaging app Kik, saying, “Oh, phustle,” and asking, “What kind of a creep? What kind of a creeper has been on … a platform like Kik.”

The Washington Examiner framed York’s view of the political timing as a question of voter awareness, with York arguing the scandal could still reshape the race once fully understood.

In the same Washington Examiner piece, York suggested the allegations’ “full scope” remains unclear and raised the possibility that additional reporting could further affect the Senate contest.

The dispute over Platner’s sexting allegations is unfolding alongside debate over how voters will weigh the latest controversy against the broader Senate matchup with Susan Collins, with York citing RealClearPolitics polling that “Platner is up by 8 points over Susan Collins.”

“Washington Examiner chief political correspondent Byron York weighed in on the sexting scandal surrounding Graham Platner, the Democratic candidate for U”

Washington Examiner

CNN reported that Sen. Tina Smith told CNN, “I think that Maine voters are going to decide what they think,” and argued voters are “not that interested in people’s text messages” compared with what politicians will do for “their lives work better.”

In CNN’s reporting, Fetterman said he would not commit to backing Platner if he becomes the Democratic nominee, and when pressed about a general election he said, “no, no, I don’t know,” before referring again to “whatever kind of creeper stuff” online.

The New York Magazine roundup described how the fallout continued after The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal reported that Platner’s wife, Amy Gertner, acknowledged to a campaign staffer last year that Platner had sent sexts to multiple women while they were married.

It also quoted a reaction attributed to Alex Seitz-Wald in an X thread, saying, “I feel sickened that I have vote for him,” as the question in Maine becomes whether this scandal “feel different” to voters than earlier controversies.