McConnell Calls for Ethics Investigation After Sen. Al Franken Accused of Groping and Kissing Woman in 2006

‘Senator Franken, You Wrote the Script. But There’s Nothing Funny About Sexual Assault’ Woman Says

A talk radio news anchor is accusing Senator Al Franken of groping and kissing her without her consent. The Minnesota Democrat has apologized in a statement. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell quickly called for an ethics investigation.

Leeann Tweeden says the two were working together to entertain troops in 2006. As part of a skit Franken, a former Saturday Night Live writer, wrote, he was to kiss Tweeden. She objected when he repeatedly wanted to rehearse the skit, which she says made her uncomfortable.

“Franken had written some skits for the show and brought props and costumes to go along with them,” Tweeden writes in a post on 790 KABC’s website, titled, “Senator Franken, you wrote the script. But there’s nothing funny about sexual assault.” 

“Like many USO shows before and since, the skits were full of sexual innuendo geared toward a young, male audience,” she explains.

He repeated that actors really need to rehearse everything and that we must practice the kiss. I said ‘OK’ so he would stop badgering me. We did the line leading up to the kiss and then he came at me, put his hand on the back of my head, mashed his lips against mine and aggressively stuck his tongue in my mouth.

I immediately pushed him away with both of my hands against his chest and told him if he ever did that to me again I wouldn’t be so nice about it the next time.

I walked away. All I could think about was getting to a bathroom as fast as possible to rinse the taste of him out of my mouth.

I felt disgusted and violated.

Tweeden posted this photo and a link to her story to Twitter:

In a statement, Sen. Franken apologized but says his recollection of their interaction was different.

“I certainly don’t remember the rehearsal for the skit in the same way, but I send my sincerest apologies to Leeann. As to the photo, it was clearly intended to be funny but wasn’t. I shouldn’t have done it.” 

Buzzfeed notes “Tweeden decided to tell her story after listening to California Democratic Rep. Jackie Speier talking about being sexually assaulted as a young congressional aide.”

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell quickly called for an ethics investigation:

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Image by Eric Austin via Flickr and a CC license

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