Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Thursday that the Senate Ethics Committee should investigate allegations that Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., sexually assaulted a radio broadcaster and model in 2006.
“Sexual harassment is never acceptable and must not be tolerated,” Schumer said in a statement.
“I hope and expect that the Ethics Committee will fully investigate this troubling incident, as they should with any credible allegation of sexual harassment,” Schumer added, echoing a call made earlier Thursday by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.
Schumer’s comments came hours after Leeann Tweeden, a Los Angeles-based reporter, alleged that Franken kissed her without her permission during a USO tour in 2006. Tweeden also released a picture from the trip in which Franken is shown smiling while grabbing her breasts as she appears to be asleep.
In a second statement, Franken apologized for his actions and said there was no excuse for his actions in the picture she released. He also agreed that the Ethics Committee should investigate his actions and said he would fully cooperate.
