WATCH: Dems stand by Maine nominee hit with report he fathered children with his second cousin
Democratic senators are still backing Maine Senate nominee Troy Jackson, who replaced former candidate Graham Platner on the ballot, after the latest allegations threaten to yet again shake up the...
By Fox News · Fox News
Democratic senators are still backing Maine Senate nominee Troy Jackson, who replaced former candidate Graham Platner on the ballot, after the latest allegations threaten to yet again shake up the race for U.S. Senate in the Pine Tree State. Platner , following a series of scandals culminating in sexual misconduct claims, was forced to drop out ahead of the Democratic primary to take on Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, earlier this summer. But now, a bombshell report claims Platner's replacement fathered two children with his second cousin. The recent report wasn’t enough to turn lawmakers against Jackson, with most stressing the necessity for Democrats to win swing state races in order to win back a majority in the upper chamber — not an easy feat in Maine where Collins, a moderate, has represented the state in the Senate since 1997. Maine's other senator, independent Angus King, said: "I have no idea what you’re talking about and I’m not going to comment on it anyway." Every senator that Fox News Digital spoke with on the issue this week denied having knowledge of the report. "I don't know anything about that, but what I do know is that we have got to elect Democrats up and down the ballot," Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., told Fox News Digital. "I haven’t heard of these reports," Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., echoed. "Troy Jackson is somebody who's obviously in this fight for working people." Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., ignored the crux of the question. "I think it's super important that we win that seat so that we can put an end to the wild cost increases and rampant corruption that the Senate right now is indulging," he said. INTERNET ERUPTS OVER REPORT THAT PLATNER'S REPLACEMENT IN KEY SENATE RACE FATHERED CHILDREN WITH SECOND COUSIN The Maine Wire editor Steven Robinson first reported last week that Jackson shares two children with his second cousin , Lana Pelletier. In posting the genealogical findings, the independent journalist claimed Pelletier's father…