Despite calls from his Republican and Democratic colleagues alike to step down after allegations of sexual misconduct, Sen. Al Franken is reportedly refusing to go anywhere.
When his hometown paper The Star Tribune asked over the weekend whether he planned to resign, a spokesperson for the Minnesota Democrat said, “no.”
“He is spending time with his family in Washington, D.C., and will be through the Thanksgiving holiday,” the staffer told the paper by text, “and he’s doing a lot of reflecting.”
Sports broadcaster Leeann Tweeden accused Franken of forcibly kissing and groping her without her consent. She even tweeted a photo of the groping incident from a 2006 USO tour in Afghanistan. The then-comedian appeared grabbing her breasts over her flak vest while she was sleeping on a military aircraft.
I’ve decided it’s time to tell my story. #MeToohttps://t.co/TqTgfvzkZg
— Leeann Tweeden (@LeeannTweeden) November 16, 2017
She also said while they were practicing a sketch he kissed her despite her protesting.
Franken himself and his Senate colleagues have recommended a Senate Ethics Committee investigation of his behavior.
“I understand why we need to listen to and believe women’s experiences,” Franken said in a statement. “I am asking that an ethics investigation be undertaken, and I will gladly cooperate.”
Appearing on “Fox News Sunday,” Republican Sen. Tim Scott agreed an ethics investigation should begin.
“We certainly should start the process,” Scott said. “This is absolutely the right starting point. All sexual harassment is inexcusable. And everyone should be punished at the same level.”