Franken sent a letter to woman who accused him of groping

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Source: The Hill

Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) sent an apology letter to Los Angeles morning show host Leeann Tweeden after allegations surfaced on Thursday that he forcibly kissed her and groped her in 2006. 

In an appearance on ABC's "The View" on Friday, Tweeden read the letter from the comedian-turned-senator that offered a personal apology for his behavior while the two were on a USO tour in the Middle East in 2006.

“I don’t know what was in my head when I took that picture. But that doesn’t matter. There’s no excuse. I understand why you can feel violated by that photo," the letter reads.

"I have tremendous respect for your work for the USO. And I am ashamed that my actions ruined that experience for you. I am so sorry,” she read from the letter.

Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/360996-franken-sent-a-letter-to-woman-who-accused-him-of-groping

[Thor_MN]

1. She felt so violated that she had it published...

Just saying...

[metalbot]

2. Unpossible

I've been reassured by many threads in General Discussion that this is a photoshop and that the EXIF clearly shows that the photo is crap.

Maybe he's just playing along?

Or maybe it's real and he's actually sorry?

But we can't have it both ways...

[Egnever]

4. Or maybe hes a decent human being and does not wish to make her any more uncomfortable regardless..

I think you are also confusing the fact that there is no groping in the picture just a pretense of it and the fact that the time the photo was apparently taken does not match the timeline she gave.

Would it be better if he came out and said she was full of shit? Would it help women who actually were victims?

His response has been perfect as far as I can see and he has shown he is more than willing to have it investigated while she is not. Odd that.

[metalbot]

6. I'm not confusing anything

I can go over to General Discussion right now and read threads about how the EXIF is fake, or how it's photoshopped.

I'm not claiming that the photo is evidence that he groped her, or that there is any evidence that he molested her in any way.

I like his second statement, and I like the statement that is a direct apology to the victim.

What absolutely infuriates me is the denial threads of "Well, it's not like he actually ASSAULTED her", or "The photo is a bad photoshop, any idiot could see that!", or "She was actually awake and this was just a staged shot". Because I've read all three of those here on DU.

Franken made a mistake. He made a misogynistic joke that we wouldn't forgive in a political opponent. Being willing to forgive him for this SHOULD be painful, but should also be possible because there's not a pattern of abuse here.

[Egnever]

10. Nothing painfull about it

This is a which hunt and there is more than enough smoke here to see that.

What is truly unfortunate in my mind is that this will give lots of cover for people that want to dismiss women's claims out of hand.

He didn't make a mistake he made a bad joke. It happens and he apologized for it he did not apologize for groping her quite the opposite he asked for an investigation of it.

This is a weak hack job that is falling apart almost as quickly as it was revealed.

I doubt it could have been handled any better than Al has handled it.

I find the idea he should be drummed out of congress for a practice kiss and a bad joke so ridiculous I can hardly believe it.

[pnwmom]

11. Is he a photoshop expert? How do you know he couldn't have overlooked some alteration

in the photo?

As it is, I don't know how he took the photo since both his hands were hovering over her chest.

[whathehell]

26. The fact that Tweeden herself has said Franken should NOT resign..

along with the fact that he has NO pattern of harassment of women seem excellent arguments AGAINST his resignation -- All of his female SNL cast mates -- even Right Wing Victoria Jackson -- have attested to his non-sexist behavior toward them.

[bettyellen]

5. He did not touch her in that pic. Still the pic itself was a dumb mistake. Not just possible... but

Probable. He does not say he groped her, he says she remembers things differently. We will see what witnesses have to say.

[tblue37]

7. No, the remembered differently remark was referring to the rehearsal for the skit kiss, during

which, according to her version, they were alone backstage and he grabbed her and stuck his tongue down her throat.

[bettyellen]

9. He did not admit groping her and the pic doesn't show him groping. He admits making a dumb joke.

[tblue37]

14. Yes, I was referring to her claim which was being misrepresented.

People confuse her kiss claim and the pretend groping picture.

[bettyellen]

16. Well if she lied about the groping why should we believe her?

[tblue37]

17. I didn't say I believe her. I was just correcting someone who had gotten the details of

her claims wrong. I suspect her kiss claim is trumped up. The pretend groping and picture were a stupid frat-boyesque prank, which he has sincerely apologized for. The public outrage against Franken is way out of proportion even for the pretend groping prank, which actually happened, because it is not anything like what Roy Moore and Donald Trump have done.

The gross kiss claim is just that--a claim. Since his escort was required to accompany him at all times, I don't think the kiss claim stands up to scrutiny, since she claims they were completely alone when they rehearsed the kiss.

[questionseverything]

19. there is a pic of the kiss/not alone

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10029857579

[tblue37]

24. That was on stage. She said they were alone during the *rehearsal* of the kiss.

Performance on stage is not the same as rehearsal for performance on stage.

[questionseverything]

29. ty for the correction

n/t

[questionseverything]

18. she has not accused him of any kiss besides the rehearsal kiss

not backstage alone

[B2G]

28. She said they WERE backstage and alone. nt

[JI7]

15. no, he is just being a decent person unlike the trash that is attacking him including on this site

[reggaehead]

31. Or just maybe

The post is real but it was a sophomoric stunt. Which is actually the case. He can be sorry now for something he had no reason to be sorry for previously. Times have changed. She should be sorry for just now becoming offended.

[msongs]

3. she works hard for the (publicity)

[ananda]

8. Crazy is just .. well, crazy.

45 and Roy Moore are actual sexual predators.

Franken was a stupid comedian who had an idiotic
moment in very bad taste.

HUGE DIFFERENCE!!!!

[BigmanPigman]

12. False equivalance and distactions is what is happening here.

Typical GOP BS! Expect more to come, and come............
Franken is not a Fucking Moron and wants an ethics investigation to prove it is to distract us from Russia, GOP tax scam, Moore and it is a hit job since he is tough on Sessions.

[bagelsforbreakfast]

25. We need a short pithy shorthand for pointing out FALSE EQUIVALENCE, not just for

this but for all the Trump/GOP/FOX propaganda efforts. Or are people already calling it "FE" or something else! I suppose "Bullshit" also works (but maybe not in polite society or on network TV.

[BigmanPigman]

30. Maybe..."It's like comparing apples and oranges".

That gets the point across and doesn't offend anyone like "bullshit" would. However it is too long to shorten for pundits and Americans for use to make an understandable point.

[renate]

13. am I wrong to think it was decent of her to read the letter in public?

It sounds like a gracious letter. She didn't have to share it and make him look better than he did yesterday. It was classy of him not to make a big thing out of his having sent the letter, and classy IMO of her to share the fact that he'd written it. I assume she didn't say anything else like "too little too late," but was actually giving him credit for doing the right thing.

[Rollo]

20. No, you're not wrong, but decent or not, seems like she's milking this for all its worth...

I understand her radio talk show had low ratings and no doubt this 15 minutes of fame will boost her ratings, her career, her income.

There's also some footage from that USO show that shows a soldier in khaki coming on stage and giving Leeanne a full body hug, to the point where he's raising one leg up against her mid section. Is she going to accuse him of unwanted contact as well?

No, because nobody knows who that soldier is and it wouldn't do much for her ratings.

[JI7]

22. she changed her tune after Franken called for an investigation and yes milking it as the other

poster above me says.

[pat_k]

21. And the View audience and "table" all applauded the letter when she read it.

Maybe now the bullshit about this will die down?

[Paladin]

27. No more groveling, Senator Franken.

Your apologies have been heart-felt and more than adequate. I want investigations into whether you've been the victim of a carefully-orchestrated smear job by the right wing.