Democrat Graham Platner, a Marine veteran, faces scrutiny over a skull tattoo resembling the Nazi SS symbol, which he got in 2007 unaware of its meaning.

Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner, a Marine veteran, revealed he got a skull tattoo in 2007 in Croatia while on leave, unaware it resembled the Nazi SS Totenkopf symbol. He said he was drunk and chose it for its military appearance, only learning of its historical significance during his campaign. The tattoo, visible in a wedding video, has drawn scrutiny from Jewish advocacy groups and critics, though it was not flagged in military or security checks. Platner, who has apologized for past offensive online posts, said he plans to remove the tattoo and denies any intent to promote Nazi ideology. His former political director questioned his awareness given his self-proclaimed military expertise. Sen. Bernie Sanders has reaffirmed his support.