Ad linked to Maine’s Susan Collins attacks Graham Platner’s 2013 rape comments. What are the facts?

Graham Platner’s comments about rape more than a decade ago are the subject of a new ad attacking the Democrat trying to oust U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, a Maine Republican, in a nationally watched contest.

"Graham Platner blames Maine’s women for getting raped because he says they get f----- up drunk," the April 26 ad by Pine Tree Results PAC says. (A similar ad from the PAC makes the same claim.)

The attack echoes previous ads by Maine Gov. Janet Mills, Platner’s main rival in the June 9 Democratic primary. The winner will face Collins, the 30-year incumbent.

The PAC supports Collins, according to Federal Election Commission filings, and opposes Platner, an oyster farmer, veteran and political newcomer. Recent polls show Platner has a double-digit lead over Mills, a two-term governor who has served in public office for decades.

The PAC ad’s account of what Platner said differs slightly from what Platner wrote on a Reddit forum, and it doesn’t capture his apology.

PAC ad took liberties with Platner’s deleted rape post 

The ad cites two sources for Platner’s rape remarks: Reddit in 2013 and an October 2025 Bangor Daily News story. The local news outlet wrote about his posts multiple times that month.

In the Reddit thread with a header "shorts that prevent you from being raped." Platner, then 29, commented: 

"Holy f---, how about people just take some responsibility for themselves and not get so f----- up they wind up having sex with someone they don't mean to? Men and women, you make a choice to consume enough of a substance to lose your self control. So if you don't want to be in a comprising situation, act like an adult for f---- sake." (He misspelled "compromising" and spelled out the expletives.)

The post continued: "Rape is a real thing, if you're so worried about it to buy Kevlar underwear you'd think you might not get blacked out f----- up around people you aren't comfortable with."

The Washington Post found the since-deleted Reddit post.

The attack ad echoes the essence of Platner’s comment but editorializes with "Maine’s women"; Platner’s comment did not mention a particular state, and he called out both "men and women" for choosing to abuse substances.

Ad uses present tense, but Platner apologized for old post

Although the ad uses the present tense, saying Platner "blames," he has repeatedly characterized the comment as reflective of beliefs he does not support today.

In October, Platner said he was "deeply sorry" for his remarks in a five-minute video in response to a news report about the Reddit post. Platner said that when he reads the old post, he sees "words and statements that I abhor. I also see the trajectory of my life." 

Platner said he made the comments shortly after he got out of the Army and had post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. Platner, who also served in the Marines, fought overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"I went on the internet to post stupid things and get in fights and find some form of community in some way, some outlet for my feelings, for my rage, for my isolation," Platner said.

He said that he stopped posting on Reddit a few years ago and that his life changed when he moved back to his hometown, started a business and fell in love.

"I don't want you to judge me on the dumbest thing I ever wrote on the internet," Platner said. "I would prefer if people could judge me on the person I am today."

He reiterated in March that he was "horrified" by his past remarks after Mills issued an ad about them. He said that what he wrote does "not in any way reflect who I am today or the beliefs that I hold."

National spending drawn to Maine election

The Pine Tree Results PAC said it was spending $2 million on the ad in an April FEC expenditure report. The PAC has raised about $12.7 million. 

The largest donors are from Texas, New York, Massachusetts and Florida. Top donors include: 

• Stronger America PAC, which is affiliated with former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson. 

• Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman.

• Lexington Fund, a dark money network linked to conservative activist Leonard Leo.

• New Balance CEO James S. Davis.

National groups are investing in the Maine race because it is one of a few contests in which Democrats have a chance of flipping a seat. Collins was first elected to the Senate in 1996.

Politico reported that the PAC is airing TV and digital ads. The PAC’s treasurer did not respond to our questions. 

Our ruling

An ad said that "Graham Platner blames Maine’s women for getting raped because he says they get f------ up drunk."

In a Reddit thread about a video discussing shorts to prevent rape, Platner commented: "Rape is a real thing. If you’re so worried about it to buy Kevlar underwear you’d think you might not get blacked out f----- up around people you aren’t comfortable with." He called out men and women for their choices in using substances. 

The post was not directed at women in Maine. And although the ad uses present tense, Platner said it does not reflect his current views. He apologized for the remark several times since it resurfaced during his campaign.

We rate this statement Half True.

PolitiFact researcher Caryn Baird contributed to this fact-check.

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