Graham Platner, a Democratic contender for the Senate, has fervently criticized what he phrases the ‘Epstein class.’ Nonetheless, it has come to mild that he has acquired substantial donations from a basis linked to an affiliate of Jeffrey Epstein. This revelation poses a problem to Platner as he campaigns within the major election in opposition to Maine’s present governor, Janet Mills, aiming for a political showdown with the incumbent Republican senator, Susan Collins, this November.
Platner has been vocal in his criticism of Collins, notably for her resolution to not vote in favor of releasing the Epstein information. He has accused her of defending ‘pedophiles and abusers’ and has even gone as far as to query whose pursuits she is actually serving. Nonetheless, the irony of his personal monetary connections to Epstein’s community is now casting a shadow over his marketing campaign.
Regardless of these controversies, Platner’s background as a veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars paints an image of resilience. After returning to Maine in 2018, he launched into a brand new chapter by taking on an oyster farm initiated by a pal. This endeavor speaks to his dedication to neighborhood and native enterprise. But, as his political aspirations develop, Platner should now navigate the complexities of his personal associations and the scrutiny they convey.
And he’s accused her of ‘defending pedophiles and abusers,’ whereas questioning ‘whose bidding is she doing?’
Now, Platner’s personal ties to Epstein’s bigger empire are coming again to chunk him.
Platner, a veteran of each the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, moved again to Maine in 2018 to work on an oyster farm began by one in every of his pals and finally took over the enterprise.
Per an article from the Maine Small Enterprise Improvement Facilities, Platner acquired a $20,000 grant from the Stavros Niarchos Basis in 2021 to fund the oyster farm’s development.
The muse, primarily based in Athens, Greece, was established after the demise of Greek delivery magnate Stavros Niarchos I in 1996, and presently lists his son, Spyros Niarchos, as a board member.
Democratic Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner speaks at a city corridor in Ogunquit, Maine, on October 22, 2025
Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, speaks to the media on the US Capitol on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in Washington
Stavros Niarchos I and his son Spyros go for a stroll on the street of Saint Tropez in an undated {photograph}
Spyros Niarchos (L) with Isabella Bopromeomoro in a 2002 {photograph}
Spyros Niarchos has been described by Greek newspaper Documento as a member of the ‘internal circle of convicted intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein.’
He appeared in a number of of the information regarding Epstein which were launched by the Division of Justice in latest months.
The looks of a person’s identify within the information will not be essentially proof of wrongdoing.
In a January 2018 dialog between Epstein and a redacted individual, Epstein asks the opposite individual ‘Is there a brand new boy?,’ to which the opposite individual responds ‘Sure, there may be an older man, you may be happy with me.’
Epstein asks who the older man is, and the opposite individual reveals that the older man is Spyros Niarchos, then tells Epstein to not inform anybody.
In subsequent emails in the identical thread, Epstein calls Spyros Niarchos ‘very attention-grabbing’ and says they ‘shared a mutual pal within the 80s,’ who was a ‘stunning Venezuelan lady.’
In April 2018, Epstein emailed a redacted individual, saying ‘I want a ladies with nice process to assist decorators. Assist dinners, and flowers design and so on the island. HELP,’ to which the redacted individual replied, ‘What nationality and age would you like? I’m in saint moritz with Spyros now!’ Epstein replied, ‘as much as 30yrs.’
Different members of the Niarchos household are additionally named within the information, together with Stavros Niarchos III, the delivery mogul’s grandson, who co-hosted a 2013 Halloween occasion Epstein was invited to attend.
Stavros Niarchos and Dasha Zhukova in Greece in July of 2024
Paris Hilton and Stavros Niarchos in an undated {photograph}
Video exhibits an inebriated Platner, stripped right down to his underwear, celebrating his brother’s marriage ceremony by singing and dancing to Miley Cyrus ‘Wrecking Ball’ On the left aspect of his chest, is a ‘Totenkopf’ tattoo, a logo of the SS throughout Nazi Germany
Graham Platner, a democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, factors to a cover-up tattoo that had beforehand been a picture acknowledged as a Nazi image, throughout an interview on Wednesday
An in depth-up of Platner’s tattoo cowl up, exhibiting a canine in what seems to be a Celtic image
Stavros Niarchos III has dated Paris Hilton up to now, and is now married to Dasha Zhukova, ex-wife of former Chelsea soccer membership proprietor Roman Abramovich.
The Day by day Mail has reached out to each the Platner marketing campaign and the Stavros Niarchos Basis for remark.
The Democratic Senate hopeful has additionally come underneath fireplace for his Nazi tattoo after it was revealed he had an SS cranium and bones inked on his chest whereas serving within the Marines.
Final 12 months, he was plunged into scandal when a video confirmed him drunk and shirtless, sporting a ‘Totenkopf’ on the left aspect of his chest, a logo of the Nazi’s paramilitary wing.
Platner launched an announcement final fall sharing that he had coated the tattoo, including that he wasn’t conscious it was an SS image when he drunkenly visited a tattoo parlor along with his Marine Corps. buddies in Cut up, Croatia, in 2007.
‘I completely wouldn’t have gone by life having this on my chest if I knew that – and to insinuate that I did is disgusting. I already had the tattoo coated with a brand new design,’ the Democratic candidate mentioned.
In a video posted on X, Platner confirmed off the brand new tattoo.
‘It’s a Celtic knot with some imagery round canine, as a result of my spouse Amy and I, love canine,’ he mentioned.
In a video posted on X, Platner confirmed off the brand new tattoo. ‘It’s a Celtic knot with some imagery round canine, as a result of my spouse Amy (pictured) and I, love canine,’ he mentioned
He went on to say that the tales about his Nazi tattoo symbolize an institution plot to torpedo his candidacy.
‘[My donors] know that that is all nonsense. It’s no shock that these tales dropped inside days of DC’s chosen candidate stepping into this race,’ Platner advised native station WGME in an interview.
Democratic Majority Chief Chuck Schumer favors Maine Governor Janet Mills to tackle the Republican Collins, however had averted a public endorsement till Tuesday after the Nazi tattoo story broke.
Schumer declared Mills ‘the perfect candidate to retire Susan Collins.’
Platner has additionally come underneath fireplace over his Reddit historical past, during which he requested why ‘black folks don’t tip’ and urged that girls who get raped within the Military needs to be cautious about how a lot they need to drink.
Bernie Sanders has endorsed Platner to ‘battle oligarchy’
Platner, 41, is a veteran of each the Iraq and Afghanistan wars — it was throughout a type of excursions that he picked up the regrettable Nazi tattoo once they got here into port in Croatia
‘I made that remark in 2013. I had simply come out of the infantry, which was, on the time, all male. I hardly ever interacted professionally with girls within the service,’ he advised WGME final 12 months.
Previous to the tattoo scandal, Platner was being touted because the Democratic blue-collar reply to MAGA.
Overflow crowds have been packing his city halls — 500 in Ellsworth, 200 in Caribou — and a viral social media presence turned him right into a nationwide progressive people hero.
Platner has stormed rural corners of the state lengthy written off by Democrats, railing in opposition to ‘oligarchy’ and company greed whereas urging empathy for working-class voters.
