Another woman accused Sen. Al Franken of forcibly kissing her on Wednesday, as a former congressional aide said the former “SNL” star attempted to kiss her after taping a radio show in 2006. And now Franken is speaking out, denying the accusation.
The former aide — whose name was withheld by Politico — said the Democrat from Minnesota pursued her once her boss had left the studio. As she turned to leave, Franken was in her face and attempted to kiss her and said, “It’s my right as an entertainer,” according to the aide.
The aide, who was in her mid-20s in 2006, described the scene to Politico:
“He was between me and the door and he was coming at me to kiss me. It was very quick and I think my brain had to work really hard to be like ‘Wait, what is happening?’ But I knew whatever was happening was not right and I ducked,” the aide said in an interview. “I was really startled by it and I just sort of booked it towards the door and he said, ‘It’s my right as an entertainer.’”
Franken was first elected as a senator two years later. In a statement to Politico, he denied the latest accusation.
“This allegation is categorically not true and the idea that I would claim this as my right as an entertainer is preposterous. I look forward to fully cooperating with the ongoing ethics committee investigation,” said Franken in a statement on Wednesday.
The accusation now brings the count to more than half a dozen women who have accused Franken of sexual misconduct. Los Angeles radio host Leeann Tweeden was the first woman to step forward last month, claiming Franken forcibly kissed and groped her while on a USO tour of Iraq in 2006. Franken has said he won’t resign from office in the wake of the accusations.
Like Franken, the aide said she is a Democrat, and wasn’t looking to force him out of office, but to acknowledge his past behavior with women.
“His resignation is not the top of the list there. That’s not my point. It’s not up to me what he does,” said the aide.