The money has to go somewhere, but it’s certainly not going back to his donors. It has been revealed that Graham Platner gave a huge “severance” to his wife after his campaign collapsed. The former Democratic nominee’s campaign paid Amy Gertner $20,246 on July 17, nine days after Platner withdrew, according to Federal Election Commission filings reported by The Washington Sun. The expenditure was labeled “severance payroll.” Other staffers received between $3,500 and $20,000 each.
The payments followed another round of rewards shortly before the campaign unraveled. On July 3, Gertner and other campaign staffers each received a $979 “win bonus” following Platner’s Democratic primary victory. Five days later, he abandoned the race.
Gertner had been a public defender of her husband as allegations about his conduct threatened his candidacy. After reports that Platner exchanged sexually explicit messages with other women, she appeared in a video defending their marriage and dismissing the coverage as “gossip.” Platner denied the claims.
Those reports were part of a series of controversies surrounding his campaign, including offensive Reddit posts and a chest tattoo resembling the Totenkopf symbol used by the Nazi SS. Platner apologized for his online comments and said he had not understood the tattoo’s meaning when he obtained it. He later had it covered.
Progressive leaders continued backing him through those controversies, helping build his national profile and fundraising operation. His campaign finally collapsed after former girlfriend Jenny Racicot accused him of rape, an allegation he denied. Sen. Bernie Sanders and Maine Democratic leaders subsequently called for him to withdraw, bringing an end to a candidacy promoted as a working-class challenge to the political establishment.
The financial aftermath left a substantial gap between what the campaign paid departing staff and what it returned to supporters. Severance exceeded $350,000, while donor refunds totaled more than $70,000. Several staffers received approximately $9,000; according to The Washington Sun, LinkedIn profiles indicated that some were still enrolled in college.
The campaign began July with more than $1.7 million in cash. After operating expenses, severance and refunds, approximately $99,000 remained at the end of September. None of the remaining money had gone to Troy Jackson, the Democrat selected to replace Platner against Collins.
The reported payments do not establish that Platner personally pocketed campaign funds or that his wife’s severance was improper. They do show that a campaign sold to supporters as a vehicle for political change ended with a five-figure payout to the candidate’s household. Platner’s campaign treasurer did not immediately respond to The Washington Sun’s request for comment.
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