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Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., told NBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday that he regrets endorsing Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner after a recent sexual assault allegation.
Platner announced that he would be ending his campaign last week after a report accused him of sexually assaulting an ex-girlfriend in 2021. Several major Democratic figures initially stood by the candidate prior to this report in his bid to defeat longtime Republican incumbent Sen. Susan Collins.
One of them included Khanna, who personally campaigned with Platner in June amid several other mounting controversies and allegations of sexual misconduct.
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“You have stood by him through a series of previous controversies, from a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol to his online posts blaming survivors of sexual assault, even after The New York Times published allegations from ex-girlfriends describing a pattern of emotional abuse, aggressive behavior, which he denies we should say,” host Kristen Welker said. “Why weren’t those past controversies a breaking point for you?
“For me, the line always was sexual assault or sexual violence, and as soon as that came out, I was the first person to withdraw my endorsement,” Khanna said. “But I will say I got that call wrong, and if there is some self-reflection, is that we all need to see the signs earlier of people who may engage in domestic violence. I wasn’t the only one. You had Planned Parenthood. You had Sen. [Elizabeth] Warren. You had the entire Democratic Party. But I did get that call wrong.”
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Khanna added, “I think what is important, though, is to understand his politics. He was opposed to foreign wars, for Medicare for All and why the progressive movement, more broadly, why these issues are resonating.”
“Do you regret endorsing him?” Welker asked.
“Yes. I got that call wrong. I endorse a lot of people, but when I make a mistake, I take accountability. And I think what people want is the humility to take accountability if you make a call that’s wrong,” Khanna said.
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Khanna previously appeared to downplay allegations against Platner, pointing out that he was a combat veteran who suffered PTSD.
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“My view is that, even according to the New York Times piece, they said there was no harm, no injury,” Khanna said on CBS’ “Face the Nation” last month. “There was toxicity, and there was verbal intimidation, which I condemn, but Graham has made it clear that there was no evidence of violence. That, to me, is a red line.”