Overview
- Reports that surfaced over the weekend said Amy Gertner told campaign staff last year she had seen sexually explicit texts Graham Platner exchanged with other women, and the campaign has since confirmed he sent such messages.
- Platner and his wife released statements and a video in which Gertner said the couple had worked through the matter and called the public disclosure a betrayal of their privacy.
- A Kik account that reporters say appears to belong to Platner was verified by multiple outlets and features a profile photo that matches his tattoos, adding corroboration to the reporting.
- Prominent progressive Democrats including Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren have publicly defended Platner while other Democrats, such as Cory Booker, have voiced concern, producing a split inside the party.
- Party officials expect more negative material and are bracing for Republican attack ads as the June 9 Democratic primary nears and the likely general election matchup with Sen. Susan Collins will shape control of the Senate.