WASHINGTON – Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders mentioned Monday that he’s standing by Graham Platner within the wake of media studies that the Maine Senate candidate beforehand exchanged sexually specific textual content messages with a number of girls whereas he was married.
Platner, a Democrat, posted a video over the weekend taken by his spouse, Amy Gertner, who reportedly instructed his marketing campaign of the textual content messages final 12 months. Within the video, Gertner decried protection of the problem as “gossip” and mentioned “being married is tough.”
Sanders, a essential early backer of Platner, instructed The Related Press on Monday that he nonetheless helps the oyster farmer and fight veteran, who hopes to unseat veteran Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
“Folks cannot afford healthcare. Cannot afford groceries. Cannot afford to place gasoline of their automobiles. And I feel it may be a good suggestion if we targeted on the vital points going through the working households of Maine and this nation,” Sanders mentioned.
Pressed later by reporters on whether or not he nonetheless backed Platner, Sanders was unequivocal.
“In fact,” he mentioned. “Why would I not?”
The unbiased senator added that he was scheduled to satisfy with Platner whereas he is in Washington this week and feels the nation ought to “concentrate on points extra vital than the Platner marriage.”
Throughout the Washington journey, which a marketing campaign official mentioned has been within the works for weeks, Platner is anticipated to satisfy with different senators and attend a fundraiser co-hosted by Ron Klain, the previous chief of workers to President Joe Biden.
Democratic senators returned from a 10-day recess to a barrage of questions on Platner. Many who’ve beforehand backed him stood by their help, whereas others prevented weighing in. California Sen. Adam Schiff mentioned he would want to “comply with as much as discover out the news on that earlier than” he may remark.
Platner is looking for the Democratic nomination for one of the carefully watched Senate races within the nation as Democrats hope to defeat longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins and regain management of the chamber. The Maine main is June 9, and Platner’s main rival for the nomination, Maine Gov. Janet Mills, already suspended her marketing campaign in April.
Platner is scheduled to look in Bar Harbor Friday night with progressive Rep. Ro Khanna of California and a pair of Democratic Maine candidates. It’s billed as a “get out the vote” rally and it’s happening at a historic theater within the coastal resort city.
___
Whittle reported from Portland, Maine. Related Press reporter Mary Clare Jalonick in Washington contributed to this report.
Copyright 2026 The Related Press. All rights reserved. This materials will not be revealed, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed with out permission.
