Photos from the Defense Department taken during a USO tour in 2006 show Al Franken and radio host Leeann Tweeden performing a skit alongside one another, and also signing autographs.
Tweeden alleged Thursday that Franken forcibly kissed and groped her during the tour. He was a comedian at the time and is now a Democratic senator from Minnesota.
The photos were taken during the USO Sergeant Major of the Army’s 2006 Hope and Freedom Tour, which included stops in Mosul, Iraq, and Kuwait. Franken was a comedian at the time and wouldn’t become a Democratic senator from Minnesota for another three years.
Two of the images were taken Dec. 16, 2006, at Forward Operating Base Marez in Mosul. A third was taken Dec. 15, 2006, at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait.
In a fourth image from Camp Arifjan, taken Dec. 14, 2006, Tweeden and Franken, along with country singer Darryl Worley, sign autographs.
“This year’s show will fall in the tradition of Bob Hope. Leeann Tweeden and I will host this event and it will include some mild political satire,” an Army press release said at the time.
Tweeden alleged Franken forcibly kissed her while they were practicing their skit before performing for the troops during their USO tour in December 2006.
The radio host also said Franken groped her while she was sleeping on the flight from Afghanistan back to the U.S. after the tour ended. She released a photo showing a smiling Franken reaching for Tweeden’s breasts while she slept.
The USO told the Washington Examiner that Franken’s brother, Owen Franken, took photos during the 2006 tour. But it’s unknown who took the photo showing Franken groping Tweeden.
