Blattner, the Maine Senate candidate, says tattoos recognized as a Nazi symbol have been covered up

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — His U.S. Senate campaign is under fire. Maine Democrat Graham Blatner said Wednesday that the tattoo on his chest was covered up so it does not reflect an image widely recognized as a Nazi symbol.

The first-time political candidate said he got the skull and crossbones tattoo in 2007, when he was in his 20s and in the Marines. He said it happened during a night he was drinking while on holiday in Croatia, adding that he did not know until recently that the image was linked to the Nazi police.

Blattner, in an interview with The Associated Press, said that while his campaign initially said he would remove the tattoo, he chose to cover it up with another tattoo because of limited options where he lives in rural Maine.

“Going to a tattoo removal place will take some time,” he said. “I wanted this thing from my body.”

The tattoo’s initial image resembled a specific symbol for Hitler’s paramilitary forces, or SS, which was responsible for the systematic killing of millions of Jews and others in Europe during World War II. Blattner did not provide details about the new tattoo, but he offered to send a photo to The Associated Press later Wednesday.

The oyster farmer is waging a progressive campaign against Republican Susan Collins, who has held the Senate seat for 30 years. The crowded Democratic primary field includes two-term Gov. Janet Mills.

Plattner said he was never questioned about the tattoo’s connection to Nazi symbols in his 20 years. He said he was there when he joined the army, which requires an examination for tattoos bearing hate symbols.

Read more: Trump’s pick to lead federal surveillance agency withdrew after revelations of offensive text messages

“I also passed a full background check to obtain security clearance to join the ambassador’s security staff in Afghanistan,” Plattner said.

Questions about the tattoos come after the recent discovery of Blatner’s now-deleted online statements, which included dismissing military sexual assaults, questioning black shepherds’ bounty-giving habits and criticizing police officers and rural Americans.

Blattner apologized for those comments, saying they came after he left the military in 2012, when he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.

He has resisted calls to withdraw from the race and has the support of Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent who has described Blattner as a stronger candidate than Mills. Another primary contender, Jordan Wood, who was previously chief of staff to former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., said Wednesday that Platner should withdraw because “Democrats need to be able to condemn Trump’s actions with moral clarity” and that Blatner “can no longer do that.”

Blattner said he is not ashamed to confront his past comments and actions because they reflect the lessons he needed to learn to get where he is today.

“I don’t look at this as a liability,” he told the AP. “I look at this as the life that I’ve lived, and a journey that was difficult, that was full of struggle, that also brought me to where I am today. And I’m very proud of who I am.”

Blatner plans a town hall on Wednesday in Ogunquit, Maine.

Croci reported from Providence, Rhode Island.