Sen. Chuck Schumer sulks over Graham Platner problem ahead of Maine Dem primary

WASHINGTON — Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is standing by his endorsement of embattled Graham Platner in Tuesday’s Maine Democratic primary, even after a deluge of sexual misconduct allegations rocked the political newcomer’s campaign in the lead-up to the election.On Monday, Schumer dodged a reporter’s question about whether Democrats should back Platner in tomorrow’s primary.The senator’s office also did not respond to requests for comment.The 41-year-old veteran has been accused of having “hated women” in relationships and being physically abusive at times, even twisting one of his exes’ arms before locking her in a bedroom during an argument, according to former girlfriends who spoke with the New York Times.One of those ex-girlfriends, Lyndsey Fifield, said that he “would joke” about having gotten “a Nazi tattoo” after serving in the Marines because the soldiers he served with “were like a death unit” and “were killers” — despite Platner denying knowledge that the skull-and-crossbones symbol was used by Adolf Hitler’s Schutzstaffel, or SS.“Throughout this campaign, I’ve been open about what was a very dark period of my life where I struggled with undiagnosed PTSD, too often self-medicated with alcohol, and was a far from perfect boyfriend,” Platner shared later in a statement.“I take responsibility for all of that, and wish I had been better.

Any characterization beyond that is false, and I believe, politically motivated.I’m not proud of who I was then, but I am proud of the work I’ve done since, and the movement we are building in Maine.”Additionally, Amy Gertner, the Maine Democrat’s wife, revealed to an aide last August, as the Platner campaign was launching, that her husband had sent “sexual” messages to at least six women outside his marriage, The Times and Wall Street Journal reported.Following all these reports, Schumer, who is also the highest-ranking Jewish lawmaker in Congress,...