Fitzpatrick calls for higher bar on Senate candidate allegations

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick said Congress must set a higher bar for member conduct after recent reports detailed allegations against Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner. Fitzpatrick spoke on CNN's "State of the Union" alongside Rep. Tom Suozzi. Both lawmakers addressed the reports and said voters ultimately decide but that elected officials should state clear opinions.

Allegations reported A New York Times report published Thursday described interviews with three former girlfriends who gave differing accounts of Platner's past behavior. Some described him as caring while others called the conduct toxic. The Wall Street Journal separately reported that Platner's wife found sexually explicit text messages he sent to other women.

Platner disputed several of the allegations in a Thursday interview, saying some of the more serious claims are not true.

Lawmakers respond Suozzi said he has been unsettled by Platner's positions on issues for a long time, separate from the personal conduct allegations. Fitzpatrick called the latest reports very troubling and noted he has previously voted to expel members from both parties and to remove them from committees.

A University of Massachusetts Lowell/YouGov poll released Thursday showed Platner at 48 percent support against Sen. Susan Collins at 43 percent in a hypothetical general election. It remains unclear whether the reports will affect the race.