Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) issued a third apology to his constituents Thursday in response to the sexual assault allegations against him. Last week, radio host Leeann Tweeden provided photographic evidence revealing how Franken took advantage of her on a 2006 USO tour. The image showed him smiling while pretending to grab her breasts while she slept.
In the immediate aftermath, Franken expressed regret for taking the provocative photo, noting it was intended to be a joke. He followed that statement up with a stronger apology.
“I respect women," he said, in part. "I don’t respect men who don’t. And the fact that my own actions have given people a good reason to doubt that makes me feel ashamed."
Since then, more women have come forward charging him with sexual misconduct, this time at political events in 2007 and 2008.
What do Minnesotans think about all this? Polls show that 50 percent want him out of Congress. Sixty-six percent think the House Ethics Committee should look into the USO incident.
This fresh allegations and poll numbers have led to a third apology from Franken, this one released on Thanksgiving.
Senator Al Franken issued a new statement Thursday on the newest allegations that he groped women: pic.twitter.com/vNqgyb5aAy
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) November 24, 2017
Time will tell if Minnesotans are feeling forgiving.
Along with Franken, Rep. John Conyers (R-MI), Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) and Republican Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore have scandals to answer for as well. Moore's day of reckoning is in just three weeks, when Alabamans head to the polls.