
Fetterman Turns on Democrats, Demands Bernie Sanders Apologize as New Allegations Rock Maine Senate Candidate
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) intensified his criticism of fellow Democrats on Monday, accusing party leaders of ignoring warning signs surrounding embattled Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner and calling on Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and other prominent supporters to apologize for backing him after new allegations surfaced.
The latest controversy erupted after Politico published an interview Monday with Jenny Racicot, a 41-year-old Maine resident who said she dated Platner several years ago.
In the wake of the report, a growing number of Democratic officials have withdrawn their endorsements of Platner, while speculation has mounted that he may exit the race. Although he secured the Democratic nomination in Maine’s primary election, state law still allows the party a brief window to replace him on the ballot.
Fetterman has repeatedly criticized Platner throughout the campaign as various controversies emerged and has frequently voiced those concerns during appearances on Fox News.
Appearing Monday night on The Ingraham Angle, Fetterman discussed the newest allegations with host Laura Ingraham.
Ingraham noted that Fetterman had become one of Platner’s most outspoken critics and asked how he viewed the latest developments.
Fetterman praised Racicot for coming forward, describing her as “courageous” and “very brave,” while adding that he was “so sorry for what she’s been through.”
Ingraham responded by saying, “Your party was willing — your party leaders, not you — was willing to look past all of these other allegations against him,” adding, “from the … tattoo, the Nazi tattoo, to all the other Reddit posts that had been dug up. So they were willing to overlook all of that because he was their star.”
“Yeah. I refuse to overlook that,” Fetterman replied. “But honestly, I would really call Bernie Sanders to apologize for pushing this kind of predator more than anyone he helped him elect. Now apologize to the victims…”
Fetterman continued, “So I don’t know why you want to keep pushing these kinds of people…”
Ingraham pointed out that Platner has denied the allegations and said he was “basically reviewing his opinions,” while predicting that he was “obviously gonna drop out, correct?”
Fetterman responded that “He was already a dead man walking politically,” noting that “the entire Democratic party in Maine,” along with Democratic Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, had publicly urged Platner to withdraw.
“I don’t know why he’s trying to pretend that he’s not done,” Fetterman continued. “Those Pod Save America people that pushed that dirt bag — they dismiss those things in The New York Times article — maybe they ought to apologize to the women that clearly they didn’t believe or they dismissed.”
He also criticized other Democrats for supporting Platner, saying, “I know Democrats that have back-to-back endorsed and got all in on” former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), and “were on the Platner train as well, too.” Fetterman added, “So maybe stop getting in bed with absolute dirt bags, someone like Platner.”
During the interview, Ingraham played a portion of Racicot’s interview with Tapper, describing her account as “hard words to hear.”
Fetterman agreed, calling the allegations “terrible,” and faulting “so many Democrats” for previously dismissing earlier accusations by saying “it’s not a big deal or we don’t believe it or it’s politically motivated.”
When Ingraham asked whether he had any message for Platner, Fetterman did not hold back.
“I don’t have anything to say to that trash bag,” he replied, once again describing Platner as “a dead man walking politically.”
Fetterman concluded by expressing sympathy for “the poor women that have been brutalized by him,” and said he wanted to “salute the courage for the women to come forward.”
He also argued that Democrats who promoted Platner had placed the party’s chances of regaining a Senate majority at “serious risk” and should “maybe look in the mirror” and consider “the kind of person you were pushing.”
“Any normal person could have seen what was coming, the kind of person it is now,” Fetterman concluded, adding that he would “just call him out for what he is.”