News Anchor Claims Senator Franken Assaulted Her

KABC Los Angeles news anchor Leeann Tweeden says Minnesota Senator Al Franken assaulted her during a USO Tour in 2006 when Franken wrote a sketch for the tour, which had his character kiss her.

Tweeden says Franken insisted they needed to practice the kiss, and at one point he forcibly kissed her. Tweeden says she later found a tour photo of Franken groping her breasts over her clothes while she slept. She was unaware of the picture until she returned home and released the photo as evidence of his sexual misconduct. That photo is now being circulated online.

Franken, who was a writer for "Saturday Night Live" before becoming a Senator in 2009, responded to the allegation saying he "did not remember the rehearsal for the skit in the same way," but sent his "sincerest apologies" to Tweeden. As for the photo, he said the photo was intended to be funny, but obviously was not and he "shouldn't have done it." For her part, Tweeden admits to being afraid to come forward about the incident eleven years ago, fearing she might lose her job, but said she accepts his apology he issued today because "people make mistakes."


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