Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman denounced Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner during a Monday night interview on Fox News, calling the candidate a “dead man walking” politically following serious sexual assault allegations. Fetterman, who appeared on “The Ingraham Angle,” also demanded that Sen. Bernie Sanders and other Democrats who previously endorsed or supported Platner offer apologies to the victims.
The discussion centered on recent claims brought against Platner, including a sexual assault allegation from a woman who gave an interview to Jake Tapper. Fetterman stated that he refuses to overlook the allegations, comparing the situation to that of Eric Swalwell, the California Democrat who ended his gubernatorial campaign earlier this year after facing similar scrutiny.
When asked by host Laura Ingraham about the Democratic Party’s willingness to overlook past allegations against Platner—including reports of aggressive behavior and social media posts—Fetterman responded directly.
“Yeah. I refuse to overlook that,” Fetterman said. “But honestly, I would really call Bernie Sanders to apologize for pushing this kind of predator more than anyone. He helped him elect—now apologize to the victims, especially the woman that claimed that he raped her.”
Fetterman questioned why party leadership and other prominent figures continued to support the candidate despite the mounting controversy. “So I don’t know why you want to keep pushing these kinds of people,” he added. “Maybe he should stop pushing these communists and people like P-Hustle, now he’s been credibly accused of rape. That was less than five years ago.”
Regarding Platner’s political future, Fetterman emphasized that the candidate has lost his standing within the party. “He was already a dead man walking politically. So regardless now, when the entire Democratic Party in Maine has called him to leave, and now also, as far as I know, whether it’s Schumer, Gillibrand, and other leadership in the DSCC and other people that called him—he has to go. He’s a dead man walking.”
Fetterman also took aim at media figures and organizations, specifically mentioning the “Pod Save America” team, for previously dismissing concerns raised about Platner in a New York Times article. He suggested that these individuals should reconsider their past support, stating, “Maybe they ought to apologize to the women that clearly they didn’t believe or they dismissed that.”
Ingraham played a clip of the accuser’s interview with Jake Tapper, in which she explained her motivation for coming forward, citing a desire to stop men from relying on “the silence of women to be where they are.”
In response to the clip, Fetterman said his heart goes out to the woman. He noted the struggle faced by those who report misconduct when supporters of a candidate dismiss claims as politically motivated.
“The woman that had the courage to come forward is identified as a progressive. She said he raped me and came in my home without consent,” Fetterman said.
When asked what he would say to Platner directly, Fetterman declined, referring to him as “trash bag.” He concluded by calling on those who financially supported Platner to reflect on their actions, noting that the candidate’s behavior has put the Democratic path to a Senate majority at risk.
“For me, my thoughts are with the four women that have been brutalized by him,” Fetterman said. “And all of the people that sent Platner checks, cashed checks from Platner—maybe look in the mirror at the kind of person that you were pushing.”
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