Multiple hosts on ABC’s “The View” publicly condemned Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner following a wave of damaging controversy reports this week.
The criticism came after reports surfaced over the weekend that Platner had sent sexually explicit messages to women after he married his wife.
Hosts on the program did not hold back in their assessment of Platner, describing his behavior as disqualifying for a candidate seeking Senate office.
Alyssa Farah Griffin, who served as White House director of strategic communications during President Trump’s first term, was among those who weighed in.
Griffin listed what she described as a litany of controversies surrounding the Maine Democratic candidate during the panel’s discussion of the matter.
The explicit messaging reports added fresh scrutiny to a candidate already navigating what the hosts characterized as multiple overlapping controversies.
The segment reflected a broader willingness among the show’s hosts to criticize members of their own political circles when personal conduct becomes a public issue.
Platner is running as a Democrat in Maine, a state that has drawn significant national attention in recent Senate election cycles.
The reports about the sexually explicit messages quickly elevated his case from a regional political story to one receiving national cable news coverage.
The hosts on “The View” made clear that the controversy surrounding Platner’s personal conduct was a legitimate line of scrutiny for voters to consider ahead of the election.