Graham Platner Covers Up Tattoo That Resembles Nazi Symbol

"After his splashy debut on the political scene, Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner has been playing defense following reports on his past controversial Reddit posts. But the hits kept on coming after it was revealed that the veteran and oyster farmer has a skull and crossbones tattoo that resembles a prominent Nazi emblem. But on Wednesday, Platner revealed that he has since had the tattoo covered up in the wake of the burgeoning controversy."

"In an interview with the Associated Press, Platner said he opted to have the tattoo covered up rather than undergo a full removal due to the slim options where he lives and in the interest of time. "Going to a tattoo-removal place is going to take a while," he said. "I wanted this thing off my body." Platner first addressed the tattoo during an appearance on the podcast Pod Save America, saying he got the ink while on deployment with the Marines in Split, Croatia."

"Platner said no one had ever pointed out the potential meaning of the tattoo in the years since, noting that he went on to join the Army and passed a security clearance when he served as a contractor with the U.S. Department of State. "I am not a secret Nazi. Actually, if you read through my Reddit comments, I think you can pretty much figure out where I stand on Nazism and antisemitism and racism in general. I would say a lifelong opponent," he said."

Graham Platner covered a skull-and-crossbones tattoo that resembled a prominent Nazi emblem after the image drew scrutiny during his Maine Senate campaign. He opted for a cover rather than full removal because local tattoo-removal options were limited and removals would take longer. Platner reported receiving the tattoo while on deployment with the Marines in Split, Croatia, after getting inebriated on leave and choosing a skull-and-crossbones design. He described skulls and crossbones as a common military motif, later joined the Army, and obtained a security clearance while contracting for the U.S. Department of State. Platner denied being a Nazi and characterized himself as a lifelong opponent of Nazism, antisemitism, and racism. He once referred to the design as his "Totenkopf," the German word for the death's-head symbol frequently used by Nazi police units.

Read at Intelligencer