Platner’s former political director says he should not be senator: ‘disturbed by what I learned’

Graham Platner’s former top aide is discouraging voters from supporting the Maine Democratic candidate for Senate. In an open letter published in The Washington Post on Monday, Genevieve McDonald, the former political director for Platner’s Senate primary campaign, said that she had quit the campaign in October because she was “disturbed” by what she’d learned about Platner. 
“As Tuesday’s primary arrives, I want to make clear what transpired since August and why my concerns have only grown,” McDonald wrote. 
McDonald referred to the accusations in the past week from multiple women who described their relationships with the candidate as volatile and “toxic.” The accusers described the candidate himself as charming and charismatic but also allegedly demeaning to women.
Platner has denied allegations of physical intimidation and abuse, but admitted that he was not a perfect boyfriend and drank too much when he was younger.
McDonald also referred to the controversial tattoo Graham had on his chest of a Totenkopf, a reference to the skull-and-crossbones emblem used by Nazi SS units. McDonald wrote that Graham assured her it was a “military thing.” Graham has said publicly that he wasn’t aware of its meaning when he got it. 
She said over time she began to have doubts about Graham’s honesty, and after her departure, the campaign offered her $15,000 to sign a nondisclosure agreement, which she refused. She said the campaign has since attacked her personally, while she’s been contacted by women who shared “disturbing stories” about the candidate. 
Graham had essentially closed out the race in April when Gov. Janet Mills suspended her campaign as donors stopped supporting it.
Mills remains on the ballot and is still eligible to receive votes, but polling now centers on whether Platner can unseat GOP incumbent Sen. Susan Collins, with the RealClearpolitics average showing him leading by 7.4 points.

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