Al Franken Says He Is Ashamed Of Groping Allegations But Returning To Work In The Senate

X Facebook Email Flipboard Pinterest Print Reddit

Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) said that he is ashamed of the allegations that he groped women during photos, but that he doesn’t remember the incidents, and that he is returning to work in the Senate.

In an interview with the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Sen. Franken said:

“I’m embarrassed and ashamed. I’ve let a lot of people down and I’m hoping I can make it up to them and gradually regain their trust.”

….

To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily.

“I’m looking forward to getting back to work tomorrow,” he added in a phone interview.

….

“I don’t remember these photographs; I don’t,” he said. “This is not something I would intentionally do.”

Franken said he has spent the past week “thinking about how that could happen and I just recognize that I need to be more careful and a lot more sensitive in these situations.”

I think Sen. Franken is telling the truth. He doesn’t deny the allegations but says that he doesn’t remember them, which is very possible. Senators take a ton of pictures with people. A person who was famous before he arrived in the Senate takes even more.

Sen. Franken has said nothing in response to these allegations that provokes doubt about his honesty. The good news for Franken is that if no more allegations surface, he has time to repair his image with Minnesota voters. Sen. Franken should be more sensitive. It was the lack of sensitivity that he showed when he posed for the picture of him groping a sleeping woman that got him into trouble in the first place.

If no more allegations surface, and Franken goes back to work for the people of his home state, he may survive this scandal.

Jason Easley

Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.

Awards and Professional Memberships

Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association