U.S. Senate hopeful Graham Platner says he's covered up his tattoo after learning it was a Nazi symbol: 'I wanted this thing off my body' | Fortune

"His U.S. Senate campaign under fire, Maine Democrat Graham Platner said Wednesday that a tattoo on his chest has been covered to no longer reflect an image widely recognized as a Nazi symbol. The first-time political candidate said he got the skull and crossbones tattoo in 2007, when he was in his 20s and in the Marine Corps."

"The revelation that the tattoo had been hastily covered up is just the latest bizarre twist that the high-stakes Senate race had taken in just the past 10 days. The unfolding drama has so far included a sweep of old internet posts, a drunken video of Platner in his underwear, and now the urgently edited tattoo. Amid the frenzy, another Democratic candidate released his own shirtless photo to show off his arm tattoo of former President Barack Obama's presidential campaign logo."

"Platner launched his campaign in August, but the intensity of the race ratcheted up last Monday when Gov. Janet Mills announced her entry into a race Democrats feel they must have if they are going to reclaim a Senate majority. Her entry had the backing of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who is looking to unseat incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins, who has held the Senate seat for nearly 30 years. Shortly after Mills jumped in, news began trickling out from Platner's past."

Graham Platner said he covered a chest tattoo so it no longer reflected an image widely recognized as a Nazi symbol. He said he got the skull-and-crossbones tattoo in 2007 while in his 20s and serving in the Marine Corps, during a night on leave in Croatia, and that he was unaware until recently of the image's association with Nazi police. The tattoo revelation followed circulation of old internet posts and a video of Platner in his underwear. Another Democratic candidate posted a shirtless photo showing an Obama campaign logo tattoo. Platner launched his campaign in August and pushed back against attacks, calling them evidence of establishment preference and saying opponents tried to "destroy my life," while vowing to remain committed to the race.

Read at Fortune