Sen. Warner: Platner allegations are 'disturbing,' but decision up to voters in Maine
Sen. Mark Warner said Sunday that allegations against Democratic Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner will be up to voters to weigh, but are "disturbing" if true.
"I do think at the end of the day American voters will make those decisions, and I don't know Mr. Platner. I've never met him," Warner, D-Va., told ABC News' "This Week" co-anchor Martha Raddatz. "I would just say this: The allegations are made. I think you ought to have at least some attempt to ... disprove them, if that's the case."
Last week, the New York Times published a story based on interviews with several of Platner’s ex-partners, one of whom described his behavior at times as "unsettling" and "reckless." Some of the women interviewed for the article claimed that Platner could be demeaning to women and one woman alleged he was physically rough with her. Others described him more positively, with one calling him a "gentle giant."
Platner has said he struggled with PTSD and self-medicated with alcohol. He acknowledged he has been a "bad boyfriend" but denied any physical roughness with past partners.
Platner is hoping to face Sen. Susan Collins in November, a long-time Republican incumbent who has over-performed in her past elections. To win control of the Senate, defeating Collins is key for Democrats, some of whom fear that Platner's controversies could cost them the race.
While Warner said he wished both parties would hold themselves to a higher standard, he pointed out that President Donald Trump faced multiple controversies when running for president in 2016 and still was elected.
"This whole realm changed dramatically when Donald Trump ran his first time, was caught on tape saying extraordinarily dispiriting things," Warner said. "That seemed not to stop Trump getting elected."
Platner's outsider candidacy comes as Democrats weigh how they should deliver their message to voters ahead of this year's midterms and the presidential election in 2028.
Warner said that running against Trump and his policies is suitable for the midterms, but hopes Democrats lead with a "pro-growth" and "pro-innovation" message going forward.
"One of the areas I'm spending a lot of time in, artificial intelligence, is going to transform our world beyond what we can imagine," Warner said. "There's also a deep underbelly here of national security risks, personal risks, job risks that we have to deal with. I'd love Democrats to lead on that."
Here are more highlights from Warner's interview:
On Bill Pulte's nomination as acting director of national intelligence
Raddatz: Let's talk about Bill Pulte. You brought that up. The current director of the Federal Housing Agency, he has -- President Trump has now picked him as acting director of the DNI. You've been very critical, and so have Republicans.
Warner: This is beyond outrageous. This guy has no national security experience. You remember when the law was set up, the director of national intelligence overseeing 18 agencies was supposed to have national security experience. This guy's got none. Matter of fact, I don't believe he has a security clearance.
What he has shown is a complete loyalty to do whatever Donald Trump wants, compromising private information about mortgages. That means he should get promoted to have the keys to the 18 intelligence agencies with our most classified information. And with an attempt by President Trump to interfere in the elections, my fear is this guy would completely go along with that.
And it's not just me. Look at the Republican pushback as well.
On the stalled vote to extend foreign surveillance authority
Raddatz: FISA, which is a critical government foreign surveillance authority, is set to expire next Friday. Last Friday, almost every Democrat voted against beginning debate to extend it after the president made his announcement of Pulte. So --
Warner: And some Republicans voted against it as well.
Raddatz: Yeah. So, if he does not change his mind, will Democrats -- will you deny the extension?
Warner: I didn't -- I know how important this tool is. Why the president would throw this live hand grenade of Bill Pulte in 10 days before this is due to expire, I'm not sure Donald Trump wants this to expire. We were on the path, been working well with [Republican Sen.] Tom Cotton, my chairman, to have a compromise bill come forward.
The idea that you're going to have Democrats and I think responsible Republicans say we want to turn a controversial program that 702 already is over to a guy with no national security experience, that's a rough row to hoe.
