Maine Wire Editor-in-Chief Steven Robinson asserted that Graham Platner’s oyster business was fabricated and served as a campaign tool after his Senate bid commenced. This assertion gained traction following a Fox News appearance on June 5th, where Robinson alleged that Platner’s business was “totally fake” and created subsequent to the launch of Platner’s Senate campaign website, “Graham for Maine.”
Robinson’s claims were made during an interview with Laura Ingraham, during which he stated, “The oyster business, totally fake… And if you look at the date [when] his fake oyster business was created, it was created after ‘Graham for Maine,’ his Senate website.”
Platner’s oyster farm, Waukeag Neck Oyster Co., located in Hancock County, is a significant element of his personal narrative as a Marine Corps veteran and a native of Maine. He is currently a Democratic candidate challenging incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins.
The controversy surrounding Platner’s background escalated with a Senate Republican ad targeting his image and a critical comment from President Donald Trump on June 10th, who described Platner as “not a businessman at all” and a “loser.”
However, a review of public records refutes these accusations. Platner’s campaign has dismissed the claims as “defamatory.” Public filings indicate that Waukeag Neck Oyster Co.’s parent company, Frenchman Bay Oyster Co., was registered with the Maine Secretary of State’s Office in December 2018 and has consistently maintained its good standing. Furthermore, the company has been listed by the Food and Drug Administration as approved for interstate shellfish sales since 2021.
Evidence suggests Platner was actively involved in the oyster business prior to launching his Senate campaign. The farm’s website details his joining the company in 2018 and taking over operations in 2019, describing its development as a small-scale aquaculture venture. In 2021, Platner secured a $20,000 grant for farm equipment through the Maine Small Business Development Centers. Customer reviews and online activity predating his political endeavors mention his direct involvement in oyster harvesting and service.
State records also confirm that Maine granted Platner’s company a 20-year aquaculture lease in 2021. During the lease approval hearing, Platner expressed his intention to expand his “existing aquaculture operations,” and documentation noted his existing oyster farming permits.
When questioned about his status as an oyster farmer, Platner responded, “I work with my hands on the ocean and I don’t make much money. I’m not really sure what else the definition is than working, making money from working, not being rich.”
Contrary to Robinson’s assertion that the oyster business was a “campaign prop” and that the campaign website preceded the farm’s website, archived records reveal the oyster farm website was operational before Platner announced his Senate candidacy. Therefore, the claim that Platner’s oyster business was “totally fake” is unsubstantiated by available records.
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