Al Franken’s excuse for ‘groping’, as 2 more females’ accusations hit: ‘I’m a warm person, I hug people’

Sen. Al Franken issued a statement about recent allegations against him just after two more women came forward to accuse him of groping them a few years ago.

The Minnesota Democrat apologized to the people in his state in a statement on Thanksgiving Day, promising he was “committed to regaining their trust,” Fox News reported.

AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

“I’m a warm person; I hug people,” Franken said. “I’ve learned from recent stories that in some of these encounters, I crossed a line for some women — and I know that any number is too many.”

“I feel terribly that I’ve made some women feel badly,” he added, “and for that I am so sorry, and I want to make sure that never happens again.”

The Democrat lawmaker and former comedian issued the statement following an article published by The Huffington Post which featured claims by two women who allege Franken touched their buttocks during campaign events in 2007 and 2008.

The women, who spoke anonymously to HuffPost, join radio host Leeann Tweeden, who said Franken had kissed and groped her without her consent in 2006, and  Lindsay Menz who claimed Franken groped her in 2010 while at the Minnesota State Fair.

The first woman in the new HuffPost piece accused the Minnesota senator of groping her in 2007 while they posed for a photo in Minneapolis. The second woman told HuffPost that “Franken cupped her butt with his hand at a 2008 Democratic fundraiser in Minneapolis, then suggested the two visit the bathroom together.”

The women reportedly did not know each other and were not familiar with each others’ stories, but each had told of their encounters privately for years. One of the women described Franken as “a serial groper.”

“Only two people have come forward, and people are saying that this is a right-wing conspiracy,” she said. “It’s not. I’m a liberal person. … I voted for him after this happened.”

Franken initially responded in a statement to HuffPost: “It’s difficult to respond to anonymous accusers, and I don’t remember those campaign events.”

“I can categorically say that I did not proposition anyone to join me in any bathroom,” he told HuffPost.

On Thursday, he appeared to be offering a different response.

“Some women have found my greetings or embraces for a hug or photo inappropriate, and I respect their feelings about that,” Franken said, according to Fox News.

A Senate ethics investigation was announced over the alleged sexual misconduct as many have called for Franken to resign his seat, which he previously said he has no intention of doing.

“Men should be held to the same standards regardless of their politics,” one of the women accusers told HoffPost. “He’s an imperfect messenger for a progressive platform. He can’t claim to be ‘for women’ and also grope them.

Meanwhile, pictures have also surfaced of Franken groping famous liberals, Joy Behar and Arianna Huffington. Both “progressive” women have brushed off the incidences as no big deal.

Wake up right! Receive our free morning news blast HERE

DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW

Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!

Success! Thank you for donating. Please share BPR content to help combat the lies.
Frieda Powers

Comment

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.

BPR INSIDER COMMENTS

Scroll down for non-member comments or join our insider conversations by becoming a member. We'd love to have you!

Latest Articles