LEGAL/POLITICAL FIGURES/WOMEN: “A second woman has accused Al Franken of sexual misconduct, saying the senator groped her while they were being photographed together at the Minnesota State Fair in 2010, CNN reported Monday [11-20-17].A second woman has accused Al Franken of sexual misconduct, saying the senator groped her while they were being photographed together at the Minnesota State Fair in 2010, CNN reported Monday.
The allegation is the first involving Franken while he was in office, and adds to the political firestorm surrounding the Minnesota Democratic senator as he prepares for a potential ethics investigation.
Franken apologized to radio anchor Leeann Tweeden on Thursday after she said he forcibly kissed her in 2006. Franken subsequently said he supported an ethics committee investigation of his actions. Tweeden’s story prompted 33-year-old Lindsay Menz to contact CNN and allege that Franken grabbed her buttocks while the two posed for a picture taken by her husband…
Menz’s story darkens the cloud hanging over Franken, a prolific fundraiser and occasional presence on Democratic presidential short lists until now. Conservatives and some liberals have begun questioning whether Democrats should seek a more formal punishment for Franken as they push for an unlikely win in an Alabama Senate race dominated by sexual assault allegations against GOP candidate Roy Moore.”
-Elana Schor and Seung Min Kim, “Second woman accuses Franken of sexual misconduct,” Politico, Nov. 20, 2017 12:39pm