UMVA has learned that a heated confrontation erupted outside the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee's headquarters this week, as Sen. Bernie Sanders and other top Democrats faced off against Republican staffers clad in towels.
The unusual protest was sparked by a scandal-plagued Maine Senate candidate, Graham Platner, who has been embroiled in controversy over a sexually suggestive Kik profile photo and a history of inflammatory online comments. The Republican protesters, including staffers from the National Republican Senatorial Committee, donned towels to mock Platner's shirtless profile photo.
"Do you support Graham Platner even though he's on Kik?" one protester asked Sanders outside the DSCC headquarters in Washington, D.C. The question was met with a fiery response from Sanders, who shot back about Republican "morality" and corruption.
The controversy surrounding Platner's Kik account centers on the app's notorious reputation for child exploitation cases, with child-safety groups labeling it a "predator's paradise." Chants of "Platner is a creep!" and "Delete your Kik!" echoed through the demonstration, accompanied by signs that read "PEDO PLATNER MESSAGED KIDS."
Platner's campaign has been marred by a string of controversies, including a tattoo recognized as a Nazi symbol, resurfaced Reddit posts that blamed rape victims and pushed racial stereotypes, and sexually explicit text messages with other women during his marriage. His wife has criticized the disclosure of private details about their marriage, while Platner has apologized for past online comments.
Sanders and other top Democrats have continued to stand by Platner ahead of Maine's June 9 Democratic Senate primary, despite the mounting criticism. The confrontation outside the DSCC underscored the increasingly public effort by Republicans to turn Platner's controversies into a liability for national Democrats.
In a sharp exchange, Sanders pointedly asked the protesters if they were affiliated with the Republican party, before turning the tables on their morality. "Are you talking about morality and corruption? With President Trump?" he shouted, before walking off.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the controversy surrounding Platner's Kik account has raised serious questions about his candidacy, with many calling for him to drop out of the race. The situation continues to unfold ahead of the June 9 primary.
