Bill Maher mocked Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner Friday, using the candidate’s mounting controversies to argue Democrats are facing another problem tied to misconduct allegations ahead of a major toss-up race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Democrats \u2014 they have another sex, creep problem,” Maher said during his “Real Time with Bill Maher” monologue. “Have you seen this guy, Graham Platner, up in Maine? Their big hope to take the Senate, the Democrats. But Graham Platner, he\u2019s a lot.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maher pointed first to Platner\u2019s tattoo controversy, which has followed the Maine Democrat for months. The Associated Press reported in October that Platner said he covered a chest tattoo that was widely recognized as a Nazi symbol, after saying he got it in 2007 while drinking on leave in Croatia and did not understand its meaning at the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“You know, he\u2019s got a Nazi tattoo,” Maher said. “We don\u2019t know about that, maybe it was just drunk. You didn\u2019t know it was\u2026 whatever.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The HBO host cited recent reporting on Platner’s marriage and his interactions with women. The AP reported that former campaign staffer Genevieve McDonald said Platner was “sexting multiple women while married” and that the campaign reviewed the issue as a possible election vulnerability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“But, you know, he definitely was texting other women outside of his marriage,” Maher said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maher also referenced allegations from former romantic partners, including reporting that one woman described Platner\u2019s behavior as unsettling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Now some of the girlfriends are coming forward,” Maher said. “One of them says he used to watch TV while he was sharpening his axe.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The AP reported that Lyndsey Fifield told The New York Times that Platner grabbed her hard enough to leave marks, pulled her from a cab by the wrist and, in one incident, twisted her arm and held her in a room when they dated more than a decade ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another former girlfriend, Jenny Racicot, told the Times his behavior was “reckless” and “unsettling,” according to the AP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maher also made a joke about Maine author Stephen King, whose work has often centered on horror stories set in the state. Maher said Platner’s alleged axe sharpening “could cost him women and their votes.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“But he did win over Stephen King,” Maher added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Platner has denied allegations that he was violent toward women. In a statement to the AP, he said he had been open about a “very dark period” in his life, including undiagnosed PTSD, alcohol use and being a “far from perfect boyfriend.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Any characterization beyond that is false, and I believe, politically motivated,” Platner said in the statement. “I\u2019m not proud of who I was then, but I am proud of the work I\u2019ve done since, and the movement we are building in Maine.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Platner also addressed the allegations during an appearance on MS NOW with Chris Hayes, saying some claims were untrue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“There are things in this that I absolutely will take responsibility for and have been speaking about openly for months,” Platner said. “But those serious allegations are just not true.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Platner is running in Maine\u2019s Democratic primary as the party seeks to defeat Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The primary is Tuesday, June 9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n