WASHINGTON — Senator John Fetterman seems unimpressed with Bernie Sanders.
The Pennsylvania senator has criticized Vermont’s independent senator, Bernie Sanders, for promoting Graham Platner, Maine’s troubled Senate candidate, despite allegations that Platner behaved as a “predator.”
“Bernie Sanders should certainly apologize for backing such a predator,” Fetterman remarked on Fox News’ program “The Ingraham Angle,” shortly after Jenny Racicot, a former girlfriend of Platner, accused him of breaking into her home and raping her in 2021.
Fetterman emphasized that Sanders owes an apology to the victims, “particularly the woman who has come forward with her claim of rape.”
Commenting on Sanders’ choice to endorse such individuals, Fetterman suggested, “Perhaps he should rethink his endorsements and refrain from supporting these kinds of extremist figures.”
“I know Democrats that have, you know, back-to-back endorsed and got all in on [disgraced former Rep. Eric] Swalwell and were on the Platner train as well, too,” Fetterman went on. “So, maybe stop, you know, getting [in] bed with absolute dirt bags, someone like Platner.”
Sanders had been among Platner’s earliest backers, endorsing him in August of last year, shortly after Platner launched what appeared to be a long shot campaign.
As of Tuesday morning, Sanders had yet to join other Democrats — including his fellow progressive Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) — in rescinding his endorsement. His office did not immediately respond to a request for comment by The Post.
“I’m sure he’s not a saint,” Sanders told CNN last month after another former girlfriend, Lyndsey Fifield, accused Platner of physical abuse.
“He went through some very bloody and horrible situations,” Sanders went on. “He has acknowledged that he came back with PTSD. He’s had his share of problems.”
By contrast, Fetterman denounced Platner early and often, mockingly referring to him as “P-Hustle,” the Reddit username under which Platner made a series of wild and offensive posts.
Among those were suggestions that a Purple Heart veteran deserved to die, defenses of urinating on dead Taliban fighters, and assertions that sexual assault victims should “take some responsibility.”
Platner has denied the allegations by Racicot, but said Monday he was considering the “best path forward” after canceling several events since Sunday.
“He’s a dead man walking. I don’t know why he’s trying to pretend that he’s not done,” Fetterman said of Planter’s candidacy Monday.
When asked if he had a message for the candidate, Fetterman shot back: “I don’t have anything to say to that trash bag … But now for me, you know, my thoughts are with the poor women that have been brutalized by him. And I want to salute the courage [of] the woman to come forward and all the people that dismissed the women, you know … maybe look in the mirror.”