Editorial boards at the national newspapers withheld judgment on Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., the day after a woman accused him of sexually assaulting her in 2006.
On Friday, the New York Times, USA Today, and the Wall Street Journal did not publish editorials related to the claims, which were backed up by a photo showing Franken with his hands on radio news anchor Leann Tweeden while she was apparently sleeping.
The Washington Post did run its own editorial but it merely acknowledged the issue and the board said it was “glad to see members of Mr. Franken’s own party voice their support for a fair probe by the Senate Ethics Committee.”
Editorials on Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore of Alabama, who has been accused by multiple women of having inappropriately pursued teenage girls for sexual relationships, have been much more forward.
USA Today said Tuesday that Alabama’s special election next month “will say less about respect for the Constitution than it does about respect for women — and the imperative to win their votes.”
The Times on Monday said, “[L]et’s hope, against the odds, that the acceptance of these women’s stories [about Moore] sets an example for how such accusations can be dealt with for all women.”
After Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called on Moore to quit his race, the Post commended him, saying Monday, “This is what decency and common sense sound like.”
Even the Journal’s right-leaning board said that Republicans should root for Moore’s loss and that “the GOP will be better off if Mr. Moore loses, despite the blow to its Senate majority.”
