On The Sunday Briefing, host Jacqui Heinrich asked about the Democratic Party’s position on claims of domestic abuse against Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner (D).
Heinrich asked, “What happened to ‘believe all women?
’” referring to allegations made by Platner’s ex-girlfriend, Lyndsey Fifield, to The New York Times, which Platner has called “all lies.”
Some Democratic lawmakers, like Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), have supported Platner in his bid to defeat five-term Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) and flip her seat to Democratic control.
Jeffries said, “I haven’t closely followed these allegations, but what I have said is that violence against women in any way, shape, or form is unacceptable.”
Heinrich then brought up claims of antisemitism within the Democratic Party.
She read a social media post from Platner that said, “A staggering one-third of her money raised this quarter came directly from AIPAC. Senator Collins is bought and paid for by Benjamin Netanyahu and she votes accordingly.”
Heinrich continued, “AIPAC is an American organization, as you know, and Collins voted for the War Powers Resolution, so saying she’s ‘bought and paid for by Netanyahu’ is a stretch.
But, you know, blaming the Jews seems like a risky defense for a guy with a Nazi tattoo who’s trying to convince people it was just an innocent mistake and it doesn’t mean anything. Are you concerned that your party has an antisemitism problem?”
Jeffries responded, “He’s going to have to speak for himself, and that’s what any candidate, especially in a high-profile race, is going to be called upon to do.”
He said antisemitism is an “American issue” that everyone should be committed to “crushing.”
After Heinrich asked Jeffries about another controversial Democratic candidate, Dr. Adam Homowy (D-NJ) and his links to convicted terrorist Omar Abdel-Rahman, Jeffries pushed back.
“It’s very interesting that you’ve asked me about candidates, many of whom haven’t even faced a Democratic primary yet, but haven’t asked me a single question about the hatred, the xenophobia, the Islamophobia, the outright racism that we see being promoted by actual members of Congress in the Republican Conference sitting in the House of Representatives right now.
And by the way, what we also know is that this Republican-controlled Congress has failed the people of this country.”
Heinrich defended her line of questioning.
“Okay, I’ve got plenty of questions on that for our next guest, who is a Republican,” Heinrich said.
“I think it’s appropriate to ask Republicans about Republicans and Democrats about Democrats. You’re the minority leader, and these are members of your conference that are going out and campaigning with these unsavory figures.”
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