Top Democrats back Platner despite abuse allegations after demanding accountability in Kavanaugh fight

By Fox News · Fox News

Prominent Democrats who once argued misconduct allegations against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh warranted investigation and public scrutiny are taking a different approach after abuse allegations surfaced against Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner. Multiple former girlfriends of Platner, who is running to unseat Republican Sen. Susan Collins in Maine, described troubling conduct to The New York Times, with one former girlfriend accusing him of physical aggression during their relationship. Platner has denied the allegations and called them politically motivated. Sen. Bernie Sanders , one of Platner's highest-profile supporters, declined to comment on the allegations, while Sen. Chris Coons said to CNN on Thursday he was extending Platner "a measure of grace" while adding, "I think it's important that anyone who is a candidate to serve in the Senate, or who serves in the Senate, be held accountable for their conduct." GRAHAM PLATNER DENIES DAMNING NEW REPORT ALLEGING ABUSE AS 'SIMPLY NOT TRUE' Other top Democrats have either remained silent or continued backing Platner's campaign despite the allegations. The response marks a contrast from prior years, when many of the same Democratic lawmakers argued allegations against Republican figures, including Kavanaugh and President Donald Trump, warranted public scrutiny, investigation and accountability. According to the New York Times report, former girlfriend Lyndsey Fifield alleged that Platner regularly grabbed her by the shoulders, sometimes hard enough to leave marks, and on one occasion yanked her from a taxi by her wrist. Fifield also alleged that during an argument, Platner twisted her arm behind her back, shoved her into a bedroom and held the door shut so she could not leave. DEM SENATOR BANKROLLING PLATNER'S CAMPAIGN RIPPED FOR DOWNPLAYING ABUSE ALLEGATIONS FROM EX-GIRLFRIEND "There are some allegations in this piece that are simply not true. Anything alleging physicality, anything alleging I kn…