Epstein-Obsessed Democrats Carve Out Exceptions For Graham Platner

The loudest Democratic critics of the “Epstein class” continue to carve out exceptions for Senate candidate Graham Platner, despite new revelations that he exchanged sexually explicit text messages with many women and maintained an active profile on a platform notorious for enabling sexual predators.

Over the weekend, The Daily Wire exclusively reported that Platner created an account on the Kik platform, which the National Center on Sexual Exploitation has described as a “predator’s paradise.” The revelation followed another weekend disclosure that his wife, Amy Gertner, previously flagged messages that her oyster farmer husband exchanged sexually explicit texts with as many as a dozen women.

The one-two punch sent national Democrats — who view Maine as their best shot to flip the U.S. Senate — into defense mode.

“I’ve not followed this story as others have, but Graham Platner is somebody who served our country, he’s served his community; he’s also made mistakes and he’s admitted that,” Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) said when asked about Platner’s character. 

“Character also involves standing up to people who are bankrupting and corrupting this country. And this race is going to be a contrast between somebody who has put his life on the line for this country, against somebody who is literally empowering the moral hollowing-out of our nation from the White House,” he added.  

When asked whether Democratic Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner passes the “character test,” after CBS confirmed reporting that Platner’s wife told his campaign about sexually explicit texts he sent to other women, Sen Chris Murphy (D-CT) says Platner has lived a life of… pic.twitter.com/coKBizY1aD

— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) May 31, 2026

Murphy’s deflection of Platner’s misconduct follows months of the Connecticut Democrat railing against the “Epstein class” as a pretext to oppose the Trump administration.   

“The Epstein class’s kids won’t die in this war. Poor families’ kids will. Billionaires won’t suffer. Middle class families will pay more for everything,” he said in March. 

In November 2025, a more definitive Murphy accused President Donald Trump of being in “daily panic mode” over the release of the Epstein files, calling it the “biggest scandal in presidential history.” 

“Clearly, Donald Trump was at the center of a child sex ring. That is heartbreaking that the president of the United States was involved in that kind of gross, craven immorality,” he said to The Bulwark’s Sam Stein. 

.@samstein: “What is your take on how this is playing out and why he’s acting in an incredibly guilty fashion?”@ChrisMurphyCT: “He wouldn’t be acting this way if he wasn’t so deeply worried about what sits in those files…Clearly, Donald Trump was at the center of a child sex… pic.twitter.com/EuRUKMEh36

— The Bulwark (@BulwarkOnline) November 14, 2025

California Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna, who teamed up with defeated Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) to push for Epstein-related disclosures, doubled down on his support for Platner.

“I am proud of @grahamformaine for having the character to stand up against the war in Iran, against genocide, and against an unfair & lopsided economy,” he posted on social media. “I am proud of him for having a vision for a new deal for our time. Excited to campaign with him June 5!”

Platner’s scandal-ridden campaign, which has already faced intense scrutiny over his Nazi tattoo, his mocking of a wounded American soldier, and derogatory social media posts about women, doesn’t appear to be worrying other progressives down the ballot. 

A smiling Matt Dunlap, the Democrat running in Maine’s red-leaning 2nd congressional district, said Monday that he still backs Platner. 

GROSS: Maine Democrat Matt Dunlap says he still supports Graham Platner, exposed for his Nazi tattoo, cheating on his wife & using a notorious “predator’s paradise” app.@dunlap4congress says he thinks this makes for “a good senator.” pic.twitter.com/KQ2yM445r7

— NRCC (@NRCC) June 1, 2026

Khanna endorsed Dunlap in April, calling him a “progressive champion” who supports “holding the Epstein class accountable.”

On CNN, Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA) dismissed concerns that Platner is suitable to serve in the upper chamber. 

“Well, he certainly has many good attributes. He has a great background. He comes to this issue with strength, both of personality and determination, as well as history. But, like most everybody, there are stumbles along the way, and there’s some things that he regrets having done, and I’m sure the public will hear about them,” Garamendi said. 

A strategic divide appears to be deepening between elected Democratic officials eager to take back power and a left-leaning commentary class focused on the party’s broader brand.

“And I will say, as a Democrat, I find it really problematic when we stand by people who do not pass muster when it comes to some basic judgment and moral values. We stand by them because they’re on our side. How is that different than Republicans doing the same thing? I find it really problematic,” Democratic activist Lauren Leader-Chivee said. 

Leader-Chivee appeared to predict defeat before the November matchup between Graham Platner and Susan Collins began.

“It was a long shot to begin with, to think that Democrats are going to take out Susan Collins. She’s been there since 1996. The polls are wrong every single cycle. She [has] extraordinary resilience,” she said. “And now you have this very problematic guy.”

Democratic activist Lauren Leader-Chivee (@laurenleaderAIT) on Graham Platner: “How are we different than Republicans” if we stand by him “just because he’s on our side?” pic.twitter.com/EGIcb4OExq

— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) June 1, 2026