Dem Rep Seth Moulton defends Graham Platner’s Nazi-linked tattoo scandal

Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., said he does not think Maine candidate Graham Platner’s Nazi-related tattoo is “disqualifying,” contrary to what Massachusetts Rep. Jake Auchincloss said a few days ago.

“Look, Graham [Platner] Moulton clearly made a mistake on “CNN Newsroom” Wednesday, and I said on CNN that what I admire about him is that he owns that mistake. “He took responsibility and I don’t think that’s disqualifying.”

He continued, “You know what’s disqualifying is that there is a senator in Maine who is doing Donald Trump’s bidding. That’s not in the interest of the United States. That’s not in the interest of Maine voters. Maine voters will have to make that decision, not Massachusetts politicians. But I think the only disqualifying person in this race is Susan Collins. And given the energy behind her campaign, many Mainers seem to agree with that assessment.”

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Moulton, responding to comments Auchincloss made on the same CNN show on Monday, said he found Platner’s tattoo and past controversial statements “personally disqualifying.”

“I found this tattoo and its interpretation that it is personally disqualifying. I hope Maine voters agree with me,” Auchincloss said.

He continued, “I think it would be a mistake for the Democratic Party to think that Graham Platner’s style of the Democratic Party is what will give us a permanent majority in this country.”

Fox News Digital has reached out to both Moulton and Auchincloss’ offices for comment. Moulton has yet to confirm Platner.

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Maine Graham Platner’s US Senate candidate has faced multiple scandals surrounding his Nazi-linked tattoo and Reddit posts. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Platner, the Democratic Party’s presumptive nominee in the battleground Senate race, has faced months of scrutiny over a controversial chest tattoo he has had for most of his adult life. He also came under fire old Reddit posts He made offensive statements towards women and officers for nearly a decade.

Although Auchincloss was one of the few Democratic lawmakers to openly oppose Platner, he later softened his stance in a statement Tuesday, explaining that he did not support Platner’s likely opponent, Republican Sen. Susan Collins.

“Susan Collins is a rubber stamp for the worst executive in history. Any claims that I would support her, indirectly or otherwise, ignore my track record of supporting Democrats to take back both chambers,” Auchincloss wrote on social media Tuesday. “As I said months ago, I find Platner’s Nazi tattoo and his comment about it personally disqualifying. If it were me, I would vote for someone else in the Maine Democratic primary.”

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Rep. Jake Auchincloss, D-Mass., called Senate candidate Graham Platner’s Nazi-related tattoo “personally disqualifying” in an interview with CNN. (Credit: Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images; WGME via AP)

“No matter what happens in Maine, Democrats need to take back the Senate, and I will continue to work hard to make that happen,” he added.

Auchincloss received backlash from both the left and the right regarding this change.

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Fox News’ Adam Pack contributed to this report.