PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — His us senate campaign Maine Democratic Party under gunfire graham platner He said Wednesday that the tattoo on his chest was hidden so that it did not reflect an image widely recognized as a Nazi symbol.
The first-time political candidate said he got the skull and crossbones tattoo in 2007 when he was in his 20s and serving in the Marines. He said the incident happened one night while he was drinking while on holiday in Croatia, adding that he did not know until recently that the image was associated with Nazi police.
Platner said in an interview with The Associated Press that his campaign initially said he would remove the tattoo, but because he lives in rural Maine and had limited options, he chose to cover it up with another tattoo.
“Going to a tattoo removal shop would be time-consuming,” he says. “I wanted to get this out of my body.”
The first tattoo images resembled certain symbols of Hitler’s paramilitary organization, the Schutzstaffel (SS), which was responsible for the systematic murder of millions of Jews and other people in Europe during World War II. Platner did not provide details about the new tattoo, but offered to send a photo to The Associated Press late Wednesday.
The oyster farmer is running a progressive campaign against Republican Susan Collins, who has held the Senate seat for 30 years. The crowded Democratic primary also includes two-term Gov. Janet Mills.
Platner said that in the 20 years since he got the tattoo, he has never been asked about its association with Nazi symbols. He said it happened when he joined the Army, which required testing for hate symbol tattoos.
“I also passed a full background check to receive security clearance to join the Ambassador’s Security Affairs team in Afghanistan,” Platner said.
Questions about the tattoo came in the wake of the recent discovery of now-deleted online statements by Platner, including dismissing sexual assault by the military, questioning the gratuity practices of black patrons, and criticizing police officers and rural Americans.
Plattner apologized for the comments, saying he made them after leaving the Army in 2012 after suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.
he has resisted the call to drop out of the race He also has the support of Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont, who considers Mr. Platner a better candidate for the seat than Mr. Mills. Jordan Wood (D-Calif.), a former chief of staff to another major rival, former Rep. Katie Porter, said Wednesday that Platner should resign because “Democrats need to be able to morally unequivocally condemn President Trump’s actions” and that Platner “can no longer do that.”
Platner said he is not ashamed to face his past words and actions because they reflect the lessons he needed to learn to get to where he is today.
“I don’t see this as a liability,” he told The Associated Press. “I look at this as the life I’ve lived, the journey that’s been difficult and full of struggles, and the journey that has brought me to where I am today. And I’m so proud of who I am.”
Platner planned a city hall in Ogunquit, Maine, on Wednesday.
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Krusi reported from Providence, Rhode Island.
