Washington Examiner chief political correspondent Byron York highlighted the internal tension within the Democratic Party amid Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner‘s sexting scandal.
“Clearly, Democratic senators are terrified that there is going to be more to come out,” York said Thursday on Fox News’s America Reports. “I think it’s important to point out right now there’s a lot we don’t know about what has come out about this whole sexting stuff.”
According to the Wall Street Journal, in a private meeting on Tuesday, Democratic senators raised concerns about what further allegations could emerge. The report also referenced Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), who reportedly emphasized the distinction between personal marital problems and more serious accusations.
Warren, along with others including Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), endorsed Platner and has expressed full support for the Maine candidate.
Platner, according to the same report, denied the most serious claims being circulated, saying, “It’s not a secret that I’ve had a messy, complicated life. The worst of the rumors we’ve all heard are not true.”
Since seeking election to the Senate, Platner has faced scrutiny over past homophobic slurs, racist remarks, and his tattoo linked to Nazi symbolism. Platner denied the claims of being a racist and publicly apologized for his tattoo.
“The primary is actually next Tuesday in Maine, and Platner’s going to win by a big number, and then July 13 comes up, which is the final day that a candidate can leave the race, and then the Democratic Party of Maine could appoint another one, so those are really important dates,” York said.
‘PUBLIC OPINION HASN’T CAUGHT UP’ ON PLATNER SEXTING SCANDAL: BYRON YORK
“You have the Democrats who worry that there’s more but believe that we don’t know enough right now to kick him off the ticket, and then you have others like Fetterman who believe, ‘Yeah, we do know enough right now to kick him off,’” York said.
“You have a party that is desperate to take control of the Senate — they have to win four seats,” York said. “There’s no way they can do it without winning Maine, and it’s not looking good.”