Hunter Biden thinks Graham Platner is getting a raw deal.

The former president’s son defended Platner’s besieged Senate candidacy during an appearance on California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s podcast, according to a clip shared first with POLITICO, seeking to rebut a cascade of criticism surrounding allegations about his treatment of ex-girlfriends and his tattoo of a symbol associated with Nazis. He suggested that most Americans would fail a “show me your phone” test of their past behavior.

“If that’s the standard by which we are going to judge people, particularly people in elected office,” Biden told Newsom, “then I don’t think we’re going to have many people in elected office.”

Both Biden and Platner have been giving their party headaches. Some Democrats have fumed that the scandal-marred Biden’s public re-emergence could damage their political prospects, while others are increasingly concerned that Platner could cost them a vital Senate seat in Maine after convincingly winning his primary on Tuesday.

But Newsom does not share those qualms about giving Biden a platform. The Democratic governor’s choice of podcast guests has infuriated his allies before: He hosted MAGA strategist Steve Bannon and late Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk, brushing off complaints that he didn’t adequately challenge Bannon and echoed Kirk’s position on trans athletes. 

Platner has denied being violent toward women and has denied knowing the tattoo, which he has since covered up, was related to Nazis.

His defenders have argued his progressive policies and personal appeal will win over voters who are unfazed by the drumbeat of damaging revelations.

“I have not heard anything in any way that would say to me that he is an abusive, misogynistic, anti-Semitic, or racist person,” Biden said of Platner. “I have heard this from Graham Platner, though, that he thinks we should all have free health care. I have heard this from Graham Platner also, that he thinks that we have to radically change our politics. I have heard this from Graham Platner, that working people are getting fucking screwed.”



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