News out of Maine

WASHINGTON - A Democratic Senate candidate from Maine, Graham Platner, said he covered up a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol that he got on his chest nearly two decades ago.

It’s the latest controversy surrounding the Marine and U.S. Army veteran and oyster farmer. He was recently under scrutiny for posts he made on Reddit forums years ago in which he called himself a socialist-turned-communist and said all police are bastards, among other comments. He has since apologized for his posts, noting that he was struggling with mental health challenges at the time.

Platner, 41, told USA TODAY in an emailed statement that he got the tattoo, which resembles the Totenkopf, a Nazi symbol featuring a skull and crossbones, when he was in his early 20s during his third deployment in Croatia.

The Anti-Defamation League, which seeks to combat antisemitism, says on its website that Nazi leader Adolf Hitler’s paramilitary group Schutzstaffel adopted the Totenkopf image, which the nonprofit classified as a "hate symbol."

"It was not until I started hearing from reporters and DC insiders that I realized this tattoo resembled a Nazi symbol," Platner said. "I absolutely would not have gone through life having this on my chest if I knew that – and to insinuate that I did is disgusting. I am already planning to get this removed."

"In the nearly 20 years since, this hasn’t come up. I enlisted in the Army which involved a full physical that examines tattoos for hate symbols. I also passed a full background check to receive a security clearance to join the Ambassador to Afghanistan’s security detail," he added. The U.S. Army does not allow tattoos considered extremist, racist, sexist or indecent, according to its website.

Platner later told the Associated Press on Oct. 22 that he had covered up the tattoo, but did not provide details about the tattoo he'd gotten in its place.

Platner’s former political director, Genevieve McDonald, accused Platner of knowing what the tattoo signified in a Facebook post, according to news reports.

"Maybe he didn’t know it when he got it, but he got it years ago and he should have had it covered up because he knows damn well what it means," McDonald wrote.

Progressive firebrand Sen. Bernie Sanders, who is Jewish and endorsed Platner, defended the candidate.

"He went through a dark period," Sanders said, according to Politico. "He’s not the only one in America who has gone through a dark period. People go through that – he has apologized for the stupid remarks, the hurtful remarks that he made, and I’m confident that he’s going to run a great campaign and that he’s going to win."

Platner is running for U.S. Senate in a bid to unseat Republican Sen. Susan Collins, who has served as the senator of the Pine Tree state since 1996. He will be facing Maine Democratic Gov. Janet Mills, among others, in the Democratic primary.

Contributing: Saleen Martin, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner says he covered tattoo resembling Nazi symbol

Reporting by Sudiksha Kochi, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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