Jodi Kantor explains why Democrats can back Maine's Platner despite abuse claims
The column examines allegations against Platner and criticizes Democrats for supporting his candidacy.
SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYFox News is an established national outlet with an identifiable author and editorial operation. This page is explicitly an opinion column, so it is not a neutral report and its institutional reputation does not establish the column’s claims.
- Source type — Established national news organization, though this page is an opinion column.
- Author attribution — The column identifies Jonathan Turley as its author.
- Editorial standards — A recognizable outlet with an editorial operation; the opinion format limits its value as independent reporting.
- Transparency — The page makes its opinion framing and author apparent.
The column cites statements from Kantor and Hostin and recounts allegations attributed to a former girlfriend, but presents a strongly one-sided argument with little independent verification or response from Platner and limited context for the claims.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The piece is an openly critical opinion column. It quotes Kantor and Hostin, but provides no meaningful response from Platner or a sustained account of competing interpretations.
- Counterarguments presented — Kantor’s explanation is quoted, but the column mainly uses it as the target of its argument.
- Loaded language — Repeatedly uses strongly pejorative descriptions of Platner and his supporters.
- Opinion vs reporting — The piece advances the author’s opinion rather than presenting a balanced news account.
- Source diversity — Includes remarks by several public figures but no meaningful response from Platner or his representatives.
The column uses sharply critical language to portray Democratic support for Platner as a cynical pursuit of power and argues that Kantor applies inconsistent standards to #MeToo allegations.
- Language tone — Uses condemnatory labels and sarcastic phrasing about Platner and Democratic supporters.
- Framing — Frames Democratic support as choosing power over principle.
- Source selection — Relies on statements that support the author’s critique and offers little countervailing perspective.
Jonathan Turley argues that Jodi Kantor drew a distinction between Graham Platner’s abuse allegations and “classic #MeToo” cases, and criticizes Democrats for supporting Platner despite the claims. He also cites statements by Chuck Schumer, Elizabeth Warren and Sunny Hostin about backing Platner.
Turley says Kantor described the allegations against Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner as different from cases involving workplace sexual advances, while acknowledging an allegation of physical abuse by a former girlfriend. The article recounts that former girlfriend Lyndsey Fifield alleged Platner left marks on her body and once shoved her into a room and kept the door closed. These are allegations described in the article, not findings established there.
Turley argues that Kantor’s framing is inconsistent with her earlier discussion of #MeToo allegations involving politicians. He says Schumer and Warren celebrated Platner securing the nomination, and quotes Sunny Hostin saying she would vote for him despite concerns about his character.
Community verdict
VOTING CLOSED
No good or bad look here
This story reports what happened without casting Platner in a good or bad light, so readers don’t rate it and it doesn’t count toward Platner’s record.
People in this story
SWIPE →Maine Senate candidate whose alleged conduct and political support are discussed
President mentioned as a comparison for allegations against Platner
Senate minority leader described as celebrating Platner securing the nomination
Former senator mentioned in Kantor’s retrospective account of #MeToo allegations
Senator described as celebrating Platner securing the nomination
Part of a bigger story
50 OUTLETSReports describe former partners’ allegations of abusive or intimidating conduct by Platner, who denied them; the claims surfaced during his campaign for a Maine Senate seat. Left-leaning outlets frame the allegations through claims of political targeting and effects on Democrats’ chances, though one says Platner is squandering an electoral opening. Center outlets largely pair accounts with denials, while opinion pieces debate accountability and Democratic support. Right-leaning outlets more often present the allegations as a liability for Platner and scrutinize defenders for partisan double standards.
- ARTICLES
- 74
- OUTLETS
- 50
- AVG CRED
- 65
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