Dem Senate candidate Graham Platner covered a Nazi-linked tattoo after backlash over old posts and apologized but refused to quit as rivals demand he drop out.
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MaineDemocratGrahamPlatner,afirst-timeSenatecandidatebackedbySen.BernieSanders,I-Vt.,sayshehascoveredupatattoowidelyrecognizedasaNazisymbolaftercriticsunearthedoldsocialmediapostsanddemandedhequittherace.
Platner’scampaignisfacingintensescrutinyafteritwasrevealedheoncehadaskull-and-crossbonestattooresemblingtheTotenkopfusedbyHitler’sSSparamilitaryforces.
Platnersaidhegotthetattooin2007duringa“nightofdrinking”whileonleaveinCroatiaintheMarineCorpsandclaimedhedidnotknowitshistoricalassociationsatthetime.Hehassincecoveredtheimagewithanothertattoo.
DELETEDPOSTSURGINGVIOLENCEHAUNTDEMOCRATICSENATEHOPEFULINMAINERACE
InavideopostedtoInstagramWednesdayafternoon,Platnerelaboratedthatthedesignwaschosenfromaflashtattoowallwhile“carousing”withfellowMarinesinSplit,Croatia.
“Wethoughtitlookedcool,”hesaid.
Heclaimedheh
