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Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., said Graham Platner was always a “dead man walking” after the scandal-plagued Democratic candidate dropped out of the Maine U.S. Senate race following a rape allegation.
“The trash took itself out tonight. And now, finally, people in Maine have a chance to really vote on someone that’s not a total piece of trash,” Fetterman said on “Jesse Watters Primetime” Wednesday.
“[Platner] will only be remembered as the accused rapist that got pushed out of your election. That’s your legacy, bro. And you are a guy that cheats on your wife. You’re the guy that roughs up your ex-girlfriend.”
PLATNER DROPS OUT OF CRUCIAL SENATE RACE AFTER BOMBSHELL RAPE ALLEGATION TORPEDOES CAMPAIGN
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., told Graham Platner to “go back under that rock that you came from” after he dropped out of the race following a rape allegation. (Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images; Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
After facing a multitude of scandals, including sexual misconduct and domestic abuse allegations, Platner dropped out of the Maine race Wednesday.
He announced his exit in an 11-minute video posted to X Wednesday evening, calling the rape allegation from a former partner “false.” (Platner has not been criminally charged for the allegation.)
“To give that weird long speech and pretend like people will miss you?” Fetterman said. “No one’s going to forget you other than [as] the guy that was pushed out of the election because a woman credibly accused you of raping her. So that’s his legacy.”
HOW GRAHAM PLATNER’S CAMPAIGN UNRAVELED: FROM REDDIT POSTS TO RAPE ALLEGATION
“No one wants you anymore. I’m like, bro, you are an accused rapist,” the senator continued. “Adios, trash bag.”
Platner, a military veteran and oyster farmer, spent much of his campaign on the defensive as multiple scandals rocked his candidacy, including a chest tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol and abuse allegations from former girlfriends.
The allegation that triggered Platner’s exit from the race came from Maine resident Jenny Racicot, 41, who told CNN’s Jake Tapper that “by dictionary definition” Platner “raped” her.
PLATNER’S LATEST ACCUSER CLAIMS THE DEMOCRATIC SENATE CANDIDATE ‘ABSOLUTELY’ RAPED HER
Racicot alleged that Platner entered her home uninvited and forced her to have unprotected sex despite her repeatedly telling him to stop.
Her allegation was the latest in a series of controversies that have dogged Platner.
“He’s always been a dead man walking,” Fetterman said.
Graham Platner and his wife, Amy Gertner, acknowledge the crowd at his watch party after winning the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate at a YMCA in Blue Hill, Maine, on June 9th 2026. Platner, who has drawn criticism for his history of having a Nazi tattoo among other transgressions, will face Republican Senator Susan Collins in the election for the seat. (Matthew Symons for Digital)
Fetterman blasted his left-leaning colleagues like Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who endorsed Platner in the Maine Senate race, saying they owe voters an apology.
“What did [Democrats] see in this guy? Was it the Nazi tattoo, was it the gross messages online, the way he roughs up women?” Fetterman questioned.
“Bernie Sanders needs to apologize to the voters of Maine and to everyone that donated to that train wreck of a campaign,” he added.
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Republicans currently control the chamber 53-47 and flipping the Senate seat in left-leaning Maine is a key part of the Democrats’ path to retake the majority.
Sen. John Fetterman participates in a debate, June 2, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)
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Platner’s exit from the race will make the math harder for Democrats vying for the Senate majority.
“Go back under that rock that you came from,” Fetterman said of Platner.
