Lyndsey Fifield, a former girlfriend of Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, accused The New York Times of watering down her allegations against the Democrat and called the paper’s coverage a “gift” to his campaign.
After speaking with the newspaper about what she described as Platner’s history as a “narcissistic abuser,” Lyndsey Fifield said the Times left out screenshots and other evidence she provided and failed to include sources she said could corroborate her account.
“Why does it say ‘nobody could corroborate’ when I offered them sources that COULD corroborate?” she wrote on X.
“Where were the screenshots they’d said they would use? Or the mention that I’d supported local democrats and that most of my family (and husband) are liberal? The editors said it was too much, they explained. The Times also failed to include any mention that I DID confide in multiple friends through the years that Graham had been abusive — long before he was running for office. Those friends confirm they told the Times so.”
In a story published Thursday night, the Times described Fifield as “a Virginia conservative who has worked for right-leaning groups and Republican campaigns.”
Fifield, however, said the newspaper omitted the fact that she has supported Democratic candidates and that most of her family is liberal.
She also alleged that, in an effort to persuade her to go on the record, the Times put her in touch with other women whom reporters said would be featured in the article because they had also accused Platner of abuse. According to Fifield, those women and their allegations were absent when the story was published.
“After the story went up I began to ask them … wait, where are the stories from the other women? Where are their accusations of sexual assault? Why am I the focus? Why are there 11 paragraphs dedicated to detailing my work history (more than has been published about Graham’s by far)?” she wrote on X.
“The Times also failed to include any mention that I DID confide in multiple friends through the years that Graham had been abusive — long before he was running for office. Those friends confirm they told the Times so.”
Lyndsey Fifield also said Platner never hit or punched her, but alleged he became physical during some confrontations. She said he once grabbed her wrist and forcefully yanked her out of a cab during an argument. Platner has denied any physical abuse.
