Senator Al Franken accused of sexual abuse by news anchor

[cow451]

This 2006 encounter between an improvisational comedian and comedy writer and a former Hooters waitress, fitness model and Playboy model, occurring during a rehearsal for a USO performance, seems kind of suspect to me. While Franken exercised poor judgement, Tweeden had years of experience beating men off with a stick. She knew how to handle herself and probably had to discourage men on a daily or even hourly basis. It did not seem as if she took it that seriously. Because she has appeared on Hannity as a commentator and works for Fox Sports it seems like a politically motivated attempt to make a mountain out of a molehill by a woman who obviously could have taken care of a situation like this very easily.

Her background is irrelevant. The most egregious part is his conduct while she was asleep. Overall Tweeden and Franken have both acted like grown ups since she spoke out.

 

[Fantine]

The simulated picture was a juvenile prank gone wrong.

When I saw Franken on SNL, his comedy was uneven. It's like a skit gone wrong big time

 

[cow451]

The simulated picture was a juvenile prank gone wrong.

When I saw Franken on SNL, his comedy was uneven. It's like a skit gone wrong big time

He’s a better Senator than he was a Comic. Doesn’t mean he gets a free pass.

 

[War_Eagle]

It's just a bit suspicious who is coming out here. 2 conservative anchors. It would be like if Moore's accusers were all salon.com reporters, were 20 years older, and there had recently been a major democrat involved in a scandal of similar nature.

I feel like this is being organized to take heat of Moore, especially when you have Franken's escort coming forward and saying he saw nothing of ill nature while he was with Franken during the USO tour.

So how do you explain the picture of him grabbing her breasts?

 

[War_Eagle]

DP

 

[iluvatar5150]

2. Morgan defended Bill O'Reilley with regard to his sexual misconduct, and her charge is below that of sexual harassment. Given this, it's certain she's trying to score political points rather than acting out of any sense of victimization. This is unfortunate, because the #metoo movement matters, and people like her undermine it.

In case anybody gets mixed up (like I did), Melanie Morgan is not the one in the groping picture. She's the second woman who alleges that Franken (non-sexually) stalked her over a disagreement. She's almost certainly doing this for political points:

‘Two can play this game’: Sean Hannity supporters go after Rachel Maddow’s advertisers

 

[FireDragon76]

Franken is a former comedian and the stunt was part of a joke. The accuser is also a former playboy model who has probably had much worse happen to her throughout her career.

This seems to be a politically motivated red herring to deflect from the serious allegations against Roy Moore.

 

[AllButNone]

In case anybody gets mixed up (like I did), Melanie Morgan is not the one in the groping picture. She's the second woman who alleges that Franken (non-sexually) stalked her over a disagreement. She's almost certainly doing this for political points:

Thanks for pointing out I was unclear. I edited my message to hopefully make it a little more clear!

 

[iluvatar5150]

Franken is a former comedian and the stunt was part of a joke. The accuser is also a former playboy model who has probably had much worse happen to her throughout her career.

This seems to be a politically motivated red herring to deflect from the serious allegations against Roy Moore.

To everyone on the left (i.e. my side of the aisle):

STOP MAKING THIS POINT. IT DOESN'T MATTER.

If I walk up to an old guy and kick him in the nuts, is that ok if he took a bullet in Vietnam? No? Well, that's the logic you're using.

 

[jardiniere]

Franken is a former comedian and the stunt was part of a joke. The accuser is also a former playboy model who has probably had much worse happen to her throughout her career.

This seems to be a politically motivated red herring to deflect from the serious allegations against Roy Moore.

It could be. And still could be a true accounting of the event. Just because Roy Moore is a likely lech, has no relationship to whether Al Franken is also a lech.

 

[whatbogsends]

So how do you explain the picture of him grabbing her breasts?

The picture doesn't actually show him grabbing her breasts. The picture shows him pretending to grab her breasts (he's not actually touching her). It's not evidence of him groping her.

The fact that the picture was taken by a photographer and used as a promotional piece suggests that no one at the time thought that it was a crime or offensive (even if they are wrong about it).

The kissing incident, if it happened as Tweeden alleges, is the real offence IMO.

If others come out against Franken (and no, Morgan coming out about him acting like a jerk don't count as they're not related to sexual assault), he would start falling into the Clinton, Moore, Weinstein, Trump category. If that's the case, I certainly won't defend him.

His alleged behavior regarding Morgan is problematic, in of itself, but doesn't really relate to the Tweeden allegations.