Graham Platner denies an ex-girlfriend's report that he once twisted her arm, held her in a room

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By PATRICK WHITTLE
Updated 7:52 PM CDT, June 4, 2026

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — An ex-girlfriend alleges that U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner repeatedly grabbed her hard enough to leave marks, pulled her from a cab by the wrist, and, in one incident, twisted her arm behind her back and held her in a room when they dated more than a decade ago, according to a new report.

Lyndsey Fifield told The New York Times that Platner, a Democrat, never hit or punched her, but the incidents left her shaken and afraid. Fifield, a conservative activist, told the Times she dated Platner for about two years, starting in 2013 when he was a student at George Washington University following his military service.

Her claims were published as part of a Times report on Platner’s relationships with previous girlfriends, some of whom viewed him positively and others who described him as sometimes insulting, volatile or unfaithful.

Another woman, Jenny Racicot, who said she dated Platner on and off between 2019 and 2021, also told The Times about behavior that upset her. She said Platner once came to her house drunk in 2021 after she asked him not to come over. Racicot, a Maine Democrat, said his behavior was “reckless” and “unsettling.”


Graham Platner, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, greets supporters after speaking at an event hosted by Sen. Bernie Sanders in Orono, Maine, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/senate-election-graham-platner-susan-collins-a07b35d03ee1acc419471c048572b065

[AZLD4Candidate]

1. Timing. Hit pieces one after another. Republicans are scared and know Collins is toast.

I expect a lot of people here to DEMAND he drop out and will now villify him.

[OneBlueDotS-Carolina]

2. Lyndsey Fifield, Repub Rat F****r! N/T

[Bengus81]

3. Oh well from a Conservative activist. Just gotta be true.....

Pukes running scared about that Senate seat.

[AZLD4Candidate]

4. You saw that too. Next, we're going to be told Hakeem Jefferies is a gang member from a KKK member, right?

[Multichromatic]

5. This seems a lot like the Leeann Tweeden thing with Al Franken. I really don't know what to think.

[mopinko]

6. count on the grey lady to publish any smear they can

as long as it’s about a dem.

[SamuelAdams]

7. Are the other women, Democrats, also lying?

Is Platner part of the hit piece when he admits to bad behavior? You either care about racism, sexism, homophobia, mistreating women or you don't. We mocked the MAGA cult for defending Trump no matter what and then some act just like them. I guess Platner could shoot someone and not lose a single supporter.

[intheflow]

8. Completely disengenuous.

Trump is a serial liar, rapist, billionaire who has bankrupted all is businesses, never served his country, never pays his bills, never takes responsibility for his actions, and has a cult-like following him.

Platner is a recovering alcoholic who has PTSD from serving his country during war, takes responsibility for his past behaviors, is far from being a billionaire, hasn't raped or hit any partner as far as we know, and definitely isn't leading a cult.

Apples and oranges.

[mainer]

9. The other two women (Democrats) never alleged physical abuse

they just said he was troubled.
Only the GOP activist claimed physical abuse.

And 3 women had only good things to say, and are still his friends.

[BaronChocula]

10. Checkers Speech time?

A More Perfect Union Speech (Rev. Jeremiah Wright repudiation) time?

[Mossfern]

11. I think they were both drunk .....

My husband, before we were married, did something similar.
I had drunk too much and was having a pretty intense hissy-fit, standing on the kitchen table dashing dinner plates to the floor.
He took me by the seat of my pants - tossed me onto the bed in the bedroom and closed the door.

It's something we laugh about now, more than 50 years later.
I guess if he were running for office, I could publicize the incident and hold it against his eligibility?