I mean, just the timeline shows that whoever was putting this together (Politico and NYT) had the main concern of getting Platner to drop out

They didn't care about the story, they didn't investigate anything to find the truth, they didn't even chase ratings.

They just kept dropping bombs a week before he could be forced out.

Doesn't mean he's innocent, if anything it means there needs to be an investigation into all of it. But the only way that would have happened was if Planter stayed in, won, and then had an investigation done himself.

Now that he's dropped no one is going to look into any of it, in a month he won't be in any headlines or mentioned again.

Depending on who replaces him is what may make it a big deal long term.

But the NYT just smacked down a progressive who was vocally against Israel, if it worked once the oligarchs will keep doing it. A senate seat is too important for them to just not try.