A former staffer for Mike Franken, the Democratic nominee for Senate in Iowa, has apparently accused the candidate of assault, according to a redacted police report, a charge Franken denies.
Kimberley Strope-Boggus, who has worked on both of Franken’s Senate campaigns, alleged that a man, whose name is redacted in the incident report, forcibly kissed her on the mouth following a business meeting at a Des Moines pub in March. Franken is not mentioned by name, although details including the description of her work relationship with the alleged assailant make clear it was Franken whom she accused. The campaign did not deny that Franken is the man mentioned in the police report.
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The incident report, filed in April and obtained by the Washington Examiner, concluded that there was “insufficient information and evidence to pursue a criminal investigation.”
Franken told the Des Moines Register that he “had a glass of beer” with Strope-Boggus that night but denied the allegations.
“It didn’t happen,” he said at a Monday campaign event. He blamed the accusations on Republicans seeking to target him ahead of November’s election.
“I’m surprised that they would come after a person like myself,” he told the outlet. “But that’s fine, you know. That’s expected, I guess. And, you know, I’m not at all surprised in many respects.”
His campaign manager, Julie Stauch, told the Washington Examiner, “These allegations are false. This accusation was investigated by the Des Moines Police Department and the Polk County Attorney’s Office, who found no wrongdoing and closed the case as unfounded.”
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The incident report recorded Strope-Boggus alleging this behavior was typical of Franken and that he has treated other women similarly. She is quoted as saying that he has “1950s interactions with women” and that he believes “kissing and hugging women is part of his charm.” Additionally, the report says Strope-Boggus “did not describe any sexual intent nor any intent to harm either her or the other women that [redacted] has kissed.”
Iowa Field Report first published the incident report on Monday. Franken is attempting to unseat Sen. Chuck Grassley (R), who has served in the Senate since being elected in 1981. His seat is considered safely Republican by analysts.
