News

Graham Platner campaign manager resigns after controversial posts online resurface

Graham Platner campaign manager resigns after controversial posts online resurface

Photo: 560 WGAN Newsradio


The campaign director for rising Maine Democratic superstar Graham Platner has resigned after the resurfacing of controversial social media posts.

The Portland Press Herald reports that Genevieve McDonald resigned from her post as campaign director yesterday, saying that the views expressed weren’t values she could stand behind.

“The words we choose to use online reflect who we are and what we stand for. While I am empathetic to Graham’s experiences and respect his personal journey and growth, I cannot overlook the volume and nature of his past comments, many of which were made as an adult, not as a young man.” McDonald said in her resignation letter.

Posts made by the senate candidate years ago on Reddit resurfaced this past week, and included controversial takes on a range of topics from police to sexual assault in the military.

“Rape is a real thing,” he wrote in a post back in 2013. “If you’re so worried about it to buy Kevlar underwear you’d think you might not get blacked out f*cked up around people you aren’t comfortable with.”

Platner defended himself by saying that he made those comments while he was going through a dark period in his life after returning home from serving in the Marines in Afghanistan.

“I felt immensely disillusioned. I felt immensely angry, and very lonely and isolated. And I spent a long time searching,” Platner told CBS 13. “I found solace on frankly getting in fights on the internet, because I was alone.”

The source of the leaks is currently unknown.

To read the original Portland Press Herald article, click here.

Latest Headlines

10 hours ago in Local

Rockland Police arrest 19-year-old and Minor After Thomaston Theft

Police say minor faces theft and numerous other charges.

11 hours ago in Local

Rockland Police Investigating Threats Against City Councilors After ICE Vote

The issue of threats arose after the City Council approved an ordinance barring Rockland employees from assisting federal immigration.

12 hours ago in Local

NTSB to join state, local police to investigate death of kindergartener hit by school bus in Standish

Federal authorities are involved in the investigation of a school bus crash that killed a 5-year-old boy in Standish this week.

12 hours ago in Local

President Trump endorses Paul LePage for Congress

President Trump has given his endorsement to former Maine Gov. Paul LePage for his run in Maine's 2nd Congressional District.

14 hours ago in Entertainment, Trending

Tennessee governor pardons country star Jelly Roll, who has sought redemption from criminal past

Tennessee's governor pardoned country star Jelly Roll on Thursday for his criminal past in the state, acknowledging the Nashville native's long road back from drugs and prison through soul-searching, songwriting and advocacy for second chances.