Democrat Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) lost his composure on camera Wednesday when a reporter pressed him on whether he plans to endorse the scandal-plagued Maine Democrat Senate nominee ahead of the midterms.
The Massachusetts congressman appeared to erupt in anger and knocked down a camera rather than give a straight answer about backing the controversial candidate.
The tense moment comes as Democrats face growing questions about party unity and which radical nominees their leaders are actually willing to stand behind in key races.
Graham Platner, the Maine Democrat Senate nominee, has been embroiled in a series of scandals, including having a chest tattoo resembling the Nazi SS Totenkopf (Death's Head) symbol, which he claims he got in 2007 in Croatia without knowing its meaning and later covered up.
Platner has also been criticized for his past comments on social media, including calling himself a "communist," writing "all cops are bastards," and agreeing that rural white Americans are "racist and stupid."
Additional reporting has revealed that Platner sent sexual text messages to other women while married and faced accusations from multiple ex-girlfriends of unsettling and, in at least one case, physically threatening behavior.
Platner has also drawn fire for deleted Reddit comments blaming sexual assault victims and telling them to "take some responsibility."
In a previous statement, Moulton defended Platner, saying he "clearly made a mistake" with the Nazi-linked tattoo but "owned that mistake," "took responsibility for it," and that it was "not disqualifying."
However, when asked point-blank this week about actually endorsing the nominee, Moulton's calm defense evaporated, and he appeared to lash out, knocking over the camera instead of answering.
The incident raises questions about the party's stance on unity and decency, as Democrats continue to prop up a candidate with a history of controversy and radical views.
