U.S. Sen Al Franken (D-Minnesota)
A Los Angeles radio news anchor claims U.S. Senator Al Franken, D-Minnesota, kissed and groped her without her consent in 2006. U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill, D-Missouri, is calling for an ethics investigation into the allegations against her fellow Democrat.
“I’m shocked and concerned. The behavior described is completely unacceptable. Comedy is no excuse for inappropriate conduct, and I believe there should be an ethics investigation,” McCaskill said in a written statement.
McCaskill has talked openly about being sexually harassed as an intern at the U.S. Capitol in the 1970s and during her time in the Missouri Legislature.
TalkRadio 790 KABC anchor Leeann Tweeden reports that Franken forcibly kissed her while practicing a skit for a USO tour. She has also circulated a photo of her sleeping on a plane during the trip in which Franken is shown reaching out as if he’s going to grab her breasts.
A statement released by Franken says Tweeden’s account of the skit did not match his memory but he apologized.
“It was clearly intended to be funny but wasn’t. I shouldn’t have done it,” said Franken.
He’s the latest in a series of powerful figures involved in sexual harassment allegations.