UMVA has learned that Rep. Brad Schneider, a senior House Democrat, has joined the growing chorus of critics questioning Senate candidate Graham Platner's claim that he was unaware of his tattoo's Nazi origins.
"There's no way he didn't know what the tattoo was," Schneider said, adding that Platner should "own it and move on." Schneider's comments make him one of the most high-profile Democrats to criticize Platner, who is vying to unseat Sen. Susan Collins in one of the most hotly contested races of the midterm elections.
Platner, a far-left populist, has faced mounting scrutiny over several controversies, including sending sexually-explicit messages to other women while newly married, a decades-long history of offensive social media posts, and alleged abuse in previous romantic relationships. Schneider's public criticism came after reports emerged that several of Platner's ex-girlfriends said the Senate hopeful knew about his tattoo's Nazi-linked design.
One of the women, Lyndsey Fifield, alleged that Platner taught her the words behind the black skull-and-crossbones tattoo, referring to it as "my Totenkopf." Fifield claimed that Platner joked about it being a Nazi tattoo and said he chose it because of his belief that his unit shared similarities to the Nazi SS paramilitary forces.
Platner has vigorously denied Fifield's account, but struggled to answer questions about how Fifield knew about the tattoo's Nazi origins before he publicly disclosed it. Platner has since had the tattoo covered up after it became a campaign issue.
Schneider indicated that he would struggle to support Platner at the ballot box if he were a Maine voter, saying "I'll leave it to the people of Maine to elect who they want." Rep. Jake Auchincloss and Sen. John Fetterman have also sharply criticized Platner's statements related to his tattoo.
Fifield also alleged that Platner assaulted her at one point during their relationship, an allegation that Platner denied. Schneider's New Democrat Coalition is the largest caucus among House Democrats, with more than 100 members.
The controversy surrounding Platner's tattoo and past actions has raised questions about his viability as a candidate, with some party insiders expressing doubts about his candidacy amid a string of scandals.
