Al Franken Apologizes—Again: 'I Feel Terribly That I’ve Made Some Women Feel Badly'
Earlier this week, the Huffington Post reported that two more women have accused Minnesota senator and former SNL star Al Franken of touching them inappropriately. This comes on the heels of allegations from radio host Leeann Tweeden, who shared the now-infamous photo of Franken seemingly groping her breasts during a USO tour in 2006. Franken subsequently issued an apology to Tweeden. On Monday, another woman, Lindsay Menz said that Franken groped her at a state fair in 2010.
Franken has already stated that he would comply with an ethics investigation in the Senate and has offered no indication that he is going to resign. But after this week’s new allegations, he issued another apology on Thursday via a statement to his home state’s Star-Tribune. Franken said in the statement that he’s a “warm person” and “hugs people,” but adds that recent stories have given him fresh insight into how his actions may have been received, saying that he “crossed a line for some women.” He goes on to express that he “feels terribly” that he made some women feel badly and wants to make sure that it never happens again, adding that he hope to regain the trust of Minnesotans.
It remains to be seen if he can make that happen. A recent Politico/Morning Consult poll showed that half of voters think that Franken should resign and 66 percent believe that the Senate Ethics Committee should investigate the matter.
Franken’s full statement is below:
*I’ve met tens of thousands of people and taken thousands of photographs, often in crowded and chaotic situations. I’m a warm person; I hug people. I’ve learned from recent stories that in some of those encounters, I crossed a line for some women — and I know that any number is too many.
Some women have found my greetings or embraces for a hug or photo inappropriate, and I respect their feelings about that. I’ve thought a lot in recent days about how that could happen, and recognize that I need to be much more careful and sensitive in these situations. I feel terribly that I’ve made some women feel badly and for that I am so sorry, and I want to make sure that never happens again.
And let me say again to Minnesotans that I’m sorry for putting them through this and I’m committed to regaining their trust.*
Related Stories:
–A Second Woman Has Accused Senator Al Franken of Inappropriate Touching
–Al Franken’s Female ‘SNL’ Colleagues Wrote a Letter to ‘Stand Up’ for Him
–7 Quotes That Perfectly Explain Night One of the DNC