Graham Platner, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Maine, tells The Associated Press that he's covered a tattoo on his chest to no longer reflect an image widely recognized as a Nazi symbol that he got nearly 20 years ago.

He says he was unaware until recently that the image has been associated with Nazi police.

"I feel like he's done a pretty good job explaining the Reddit history, the tattoo," Maine resident David Tufts said, "it sucks though."

Questions about the tattoo come after the recent discovery of Platner’s now-deleted online statements that included dismissing military sexual assaults, questioning Black patrons’ gratuity habits and criticizing police officers and rural Americans.

He's among the Democrats trying to oust Republican Susan Collins, who's held the Senate seat for 30 years.