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Maine Senator Graham Platner has been largely avoiding the media after his latest scandal.
The Democratic nominee was embroiled in controversy over the weekend after reports emerged that Platner had sent explicit messages to at least six women during his marriage. In the days following the release of the reports, Platner continued to make public appearances at rallies but stopped speaking to the mainstream media.
In a Monday news release, the News of the United States (NOTUS) reported that Platner withdrew from a televised call on Sunday after the original story appeared on Saturday.
“It was difficult to force Platner in the last few days. Igor [Bobic] he was supposed to interview him on Thursday in Maine, but Platner's team said he didn't have time. Platner's staff then gave Igor an appointment to talk to him by phone on Sunday, but after the story came out on Saturday, the interview was canceled again, “NOTUS reported.
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Maine Democrat Graham Platner has been avoiding reporters and reportedly canceled an interview following his latest scandal. (Sophie Park/Getty Images)
The Maine Wire, a local conservative news outlet, also shared video Sunday of Platner's staff blocking reporters from speaking with the Maine Democrat as he left the meeting.
On the same day, MS NOW host Eugene Daniels said on his show “The Weekend” that Platner's group released an interview, after which. Platner's wife, Amy Gertner, released a five-minute video defending Platner and his campaign.
“It's not gossip if he brought himself to the campaign and told them what it was. Graham Platner was supposed to come on the show… His team came out,” Daniels said. “They came to us and wanted to come in. They pulled out. I think we saw why yesterday when the news came out.”
Platner's campaign denied the claim at the time, calling it “inaccurate” and labeling it an attempt to “get views and clicks.”
“This is completely wrong. There was never a scheduled interview – this is just another example of pundits trying to get views and clicks. Graham was busy at a series of events today, doing what he loves – talking to Mainers and sharing his perspective on politics that focuses on people's lives, not pundits or the political class in DC,” the spokesperson said.
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Graham Platner has faced criticism over new reports revealing that he texted at least six women during his marriage. (Nicholas Ballasy/Fox News Digital)
However, Platner continued to avoid questions from reporters as recently as Tuesday, ignoring questions from the media before and after the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee meeting.
“Mr. Platner, are you here to calm the water, sir?” Platner was asked by Fox News Digital as he got out of the car to meet with lawmakers, but he did not answer.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Platner's campaign for comment.
Other exceptions include Platner's brief comments on local news stations like News Center Maine on Sunday, where he criticized the mainstream media for focusing on gossip instead of policy.
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“It doesn't surprise me that the established media will just whisper instead of wanting to talk about the important things in this race, which are the realities that Mainers are working with. These people will try to make this race about anything other than what it should be, which is the goal. They don't want to talk about policy,” said Platner.
Platner accused the media of “disinformation” for reporting on the story on Saturday. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Platner also said the report was made “without evidence other than hearsay from an ex-employee” and called the document “journalistic misconduct.”
“We talked about the things that my marriage with Amy has been through over the years. We talked about that because it's our marriage, and we talked about it with the campaign. What [former staffer] Genevieve McDonald says it's not true,” Platner said before campaign staffers abruptly ended the interview.
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NPR re-released the interview with Platner on Monday but clarified that it was recorded before the latest reports.
Platner has also faced a number of controversies before this, including a now-covered tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol, and previous controversial comments on Reddit minimizing sexual harassment and making crude comments about masturbation and a since-deleted post in which he said a wounded soldier “didn't deserve to live.”
