Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) on Sunday said he believes the ex-girlfriend of Maine Democrat Graham Platner, Lyndsey Fifield, whose allegations of emotional abuse and toxic behavior were published in the New York Times last week.
Khanna, who has endorsed Platner and campaigned by his side, said on CBS’s Face the Nation that he believes Fifield and condemned Platner’s actions, but emphasized Fifield should not be attacked for coming forward.
“I believe her,” Khanna said. “I think Graham acted shamefully, and he acted … as a toxic relationship. It is shameful. It is ugly. It happened in a dark period of his life.”
Khanna noted that Platner has owned up to his mistakes when speaking to Maine voters, and the voters Khanna has spoken with understand the allegations brought against the Senate hopeful and are willing to “embrace redemption.”
Platner had characterized the allegations made by Fifield as “politically motivated” and pointed out that his former partner is a registered Republican and has voted for GOP candidates.
However, Khanna said partisanship does not warrant attacks on Fifield.
“I do not think we should be attacking her,” Khanna said, adding that the New York Times journalist who wrote the expose detailing Fifield’s experience with Platner also shouldn’t be subjected to attacks.
“Our party believes you treat women with equality and respect in all aspects of their lives,” Khanna said. “Graham Platner did not do that in the early 2000s.”
Fifield, on the other hand, condemned the New York Times journalist who wrote the article, saying he “violated the trust of [Platner’s] victims.”
FOUR SCANDALS MAINE SENATE CANDIDATE GRAHAM PLATNER IS FACING
Following the publication of Fifield’s experience, Khanna said that his party believes in treating women with respect, but emphasized that Platner “took accountability.” Khanna also echoed Platner’s own response to the allegations, pointing out that the time in which the alleged abuse took place was a period in which Platner, a Marine veteran, was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
The embattled Platner is expected to secure the party’s nomination in the Democratic primary election on June 9 and face incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) in the general election in November.