Democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) was interrupted by far-Left anti-Israel protesters while defending an anti-Israel Senate candidate on Monday. During an event for the National Press Club, a protester shouted about Israel while Sanders was defending Senate hopeful Graham Platner, who has a Nazi-linked tattoo and has been accused of abusing former girlfriends. “Israel doesn’t need defensive systems! They’re a genocidal apartheid state!” a male protester shouted at Sanders. “And let me remind you, 59 years ago, Israel attacked the USS Liberty and killed 34 Americans!” The man was escorted out of the venue.      At another point during the interview, a woman wearing a hijab stood up and shouted, “Israel needs to be stopped!” “How dare you continue to support Israel when they keep killing Palestinians,” she continued. “There’s a genocide! Shame on you, Bernie, for not speaking up!” The woman was also escorted from the room. Platner, who is running for the U.S. Senate in Maine, has previously claimed that he didn’t understand the significance of his tattoo, which was a symbol used by Nazi Germany’s SS. However, recent accounts reported in the New York Times seem to contradict that narrative. “I’m gonna do everything I can to make sure that Graham Platner is the next senator from the state of Maine,” Sanders said at the event before the disruption. After one protester was escorted out, Sanders turned his attention to Republicans to explain his support for Platner. “Republican super PACs have already lined up some $99 million just on TV ads to defeat him. Why is that? Do you think they’re worried about his views or what his relationships to women has been? I don’t think so. What they’re worried about is that he’s going to be a strong voice against oligarchy.” The senator also connected Platner’s past controversies to having PTSD. “He’s [now] gotten his life together,” Sanders said. “I don’t know what is true or not true. … There are people in the United States Senate right now who are not saints.” Sanders similarly dismissed Platner’s troubling background earlier this month, saying, “Is he a saint? I guess not. I don’t know too many saints here.” Platner is expected to cruise to victory in Tuesday’s Democratic primary for Maine’s U.S. Senate seat after Democratic Governor Janet Mills suspended her campaign at the end of April. Mills remains on the ballot, however, having never formally withdrawn, and has reminded voters that her name will still appear in the primary. The winner of the Democratic primary will challenge Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) in the November general election. Related: Ex-Platner Staffer Calls BS On Dem’s Excuse For Nazi Tattoo, Troubling Behavior