Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner confirmed Wednesday that he has covered a chest tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol, marking the latest development in a chaotic 10-day stretch that has consumed the high-stakes primary race.
Platner, an oyster farmer and first-time political candidate, stated he obtained the skull and crossbones tattoo in 2007 while serving in the Marine Corps.
The tattoo was inked during a night of drinking while on leave in Croatia, according to Platner, who claimed he was unaware until recently that the image has been associated with Nazi police.
The tattoo revelation represents just one element of an unprecedented series of controversies that have emerged since Gov. Janet Mills entered the race last Monday.
The developments have included scrutiny of old internet posts, a video showing Platner in his underwear while intoxicated and the hastily modified tattoo.
In an unusual response to the controversy, another Democratic candidate in the race released his own shirtless photograph displaying an arm tattoo of former President Barack Obama’s presidential campaign logo.
Platner began his campaign in August, but the race intensified dramatically when Mills announced her candidacy with the backing of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Democrats view the seat as essential to reclaiming a Senate majority, and Schumer is targeting incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins, who has held the position for nearly 30 years.
Following Mills’ entrance into the race, information about Platner’s past began emerging publicly.
The progressive candidate pushed back against the revelations, characterizing the wave of negative information as evidence that he was not the establishment Democrats’ preferred choice.
Platner accused his political opponents of attempting to “destroy my life” and pledged to remain in the race despite the pressure.
“All this is doing is galvanizing my commitment to this project,” he stated, according to reporting from the Associated Press (AP).
His campaign initially indicated he would remove the tattoo entirely. However, Platner later decided to cover it with a new tattoo, citing limited options in rural Maine.
“Going to a tattoo removal place is going to take a while,” he explained.
“I wanted this thing off my body.”
The original tattoo image bore resemblance to a symbol associated with Hitler’s paramilitary Schutzstaffel, or SS, the organization responsible for the systematic murders of Jews and others in Europe during World War II.
The replacement tattoo, completed late Tuesday, now depicts a Celtic knot with a dog-like creature in the center.
The animal features four elongated legs and an extended head with a spiraling tongue.
The design is predominantly black ink, with the Celtic knot rendered in green.
The AP further noted that in an unprecedented move for a U.S. Senate campaign, Platner removed his shirt during a WGME-TV interview Wednesday to display the new design.
He also lifted his shirt in a social media video, complaining that the controversy was distracting from issues important to him and Maine voters.
Platner stated that in the 20 years he has had the tattoo, no one had questioned its connections to Nazi symbols.
He noted that after three tours with the Marines, he later enlisted in the Army, which conducts examinations for hate symbol tattoos.
“I also passed a full background check to receive a security clearance to join the Ambassador to Afghanistan’s security detail,” Platner said.
The tattoo questions emerged after the discovery of Platner’s now-deleted online statements that included dismissing military sexual assaults, questioning Black patrons’ gratuity habits and criticizing police officers and rural Americans.
Additional old Reddit posts surfaced Wednesday, with The Advocate reporting that Platner used homophobic slurs and made LGBTQ+ jokes between 2018 and 2021.
Platner has apologized for those comments, attributing them to struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder and depression following his departure from the Army in 2012.
He has resisted calls to exit the race and has secured the backing of Sen. Bernie Sanders, who has described Platner as a stronger candidate than Mills.
