'Vastly different': Platner rejects hypocrisy claims over demand to release Epstein Files

Maine Senate hopeful Graham Platner (D) addressed the string of controversies that plagued his campaign on Wednesday, after his win in the state's Democratic primary election. Platner faced a series of allegations, including reports that he exchanged sexually explicit texts with women during his marriage, and he was confronted about it on MS Now's 'Morning Joe'; Platner was asked if his past conflicted with his demand to release the Epstein files. Platner asserted that it wasn't saying his past actions were largely "normal" and didn't compare to the actions of those who sexually exploit children. 

Platner, an oyster farmer and former US marine, became Maine's presumptive Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate after his main competitor, Janet Mills, suspended her campaign. He is now vying to unseat five-term Republican senator Susan Collins while facing controversy related to racist, sexist, and homophobic online posts, a tattoo cover-up of a Nazi symbol, and allegations of exchanging sexually explicit texts with other women during his marriage, according to information his wife shared, the New York Times reported. 

In an interview with MS Now's Mika Brzezinski, the host pressed about whether he could be trusted to push for issues like the release of the Epstein files and other instances of abuses against women, given the revelations of his past behavior. "Given your sexting, can you call for the release of the Epstein files, and can you call out those who have abused women and not be conflicted in any way?"

Platner stood his ground, responding: "Yes, of course, I mean, I engaged in consensual romantic activities with adults at an earlier part of my life." He added that it seemed "like a fairly normal thing most people do," but "going to an island with billionaires to possibly assault children is a vastly, vastly different thing."

Platner previously told Brzezinski that the allegations, including those from former girlfriends of threatening behavior and allegations of text messages outside of his marriage, were "entirely blown out of proportion as to what the reality of the situation is." He further denied any allegations of being physically abusive in any of his past relationships, while acknowledging that he and his wife, Amy, "had some struggles" early in their marriage. "We worked through them because that's what you do when you're in love with somebody, and it made our marriage much stronger," he said. 

When asked if more stories about his past behavior could emerge before November's mid-term election, the Democrat said, "There is nothing out there that will run counter to any of the stories that I've talked about openly this entire campaign." He claimed he had been very open about his struggles and his failed relationships despite the attacks from the opposition and the media. Previously, Platner said in an ad that the political establishment has a "love of Jeffrey Epstein and a hatred of me."

Despite his defense,  Democrats have raised concerns about whether Platner is becoming a liability in a key race for potential Senate control. While he has locked down the nomination for the midterms, it remains to be seen how he handles the campaign.