MSNBC host Joe Scarborough on Thursday blasted Republicans criticizing Democrats over their initial support for former Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner before allegations of sexual assault surfaced publicly, arguing the GOP had no standing to attack Democrats given Republicans’ backing of candidates facing their own misconduct allegations.
“You know, Republicans should just really just shut up,” Scarborough said.
“They really should just shut up. If they’re going to be critical of Democrats for supporting a morally challenged candidate or one who has been accused of doing things that are morally challenged, it is so hypocritical, and they should just leave this to the Democrats to clean up their own house.”
PLATNER DROPS OUT OF CRUCIAL SENATE RACE AFTER BOMBSHELL RAPE ALLEGATION TORPEDOES CAMPAIGN
Scarborough made the remarks on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” after the show aired portions of Platner’s video from Wednesday night announcing he was suspending his Senate campaign in response to allegations published by Politico. Platner denied the allegations in the video and said he would continue to fight to clear his name.
Fox News Digital reached out to Graham Platner for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Before criticizing Republicans, Scarborough argued Platner had issued an unequivocal denial and warned against convicting people in the court of public opinion.
“That is beyond hypocritical,” Scarborough said of Republicans criticizing Democrats. “That is just sheer farce. This is even beyond ‘South Park’ levels of farce, what I am reading on X, what I am reading in social media, what I am seeing on TV after the past decade.”
He contrasted the Republican response to Platner with the party’s support for President Donald Trump, who has denied multiple allegations of sexual misconduct, and Texas Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton.
“And by the way, if you want to talk about morally challenged candidates, you don’t have to look at the White House,” Scarborough said. “You don’t have to look at Republicans bowing and scraping for the past decade. … Just look at Texas.”
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Scarborough accused Republicans of ignoring allegations against candidates they support while attacking Democrats over Platner.
“Look at who Republicans are behind as they’re trying to suggest that James Talarico is gay,” Scarborough said. “‘But look at Paxton. He’s not.’ I mean, the hypocrisy.”
Scarborough argued media outlets and commentators should avoid declaring Platner guilty before any legal process has played out.
“People in the media are just summarily saying, ‘Well, he’s a rapist,'” Scarborough said.
He said the show’s approach mirrored how it covered allegations against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh during his confirmation hearings.
“I also said about Brett Kavanaugh … people would come on this network and call Brett Kavanaugh a sexual harasser or a rapist without any due process at all,” he said. “Perhaps they needed to take a deep breath.”
