Another Woman Accuses Franken Of Sexual Misconduct As Investigation Begins
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A Senate committee confirms today an investigation has started into Senator Al Franken's alleged misconduct.
All while another woman has come forward to accuse him of inappropriate behavior. The woman says the Minnesota Democrat "cupped her breast" just before this photo was taken during a USO tour in Kuwait in 2003, before Franken was a Senator.
As many as six women are making allegations against Franken, all of them similar.
And the allegations are very similar to the others: The women all claiming Senator Franken groped them, and Franken saying again today he never intentionally groped anyone.
U.S. Army veteran Stephanie Kemplin told CNN that just before this 2003 photo was taken, Franken put his arm around her and groped her right breast.
"He kept his hand all the way over on my breast," she said. "I've never had a man put their arm around me and then cup my breast. So he was holding my breast on the side."
Franken aslo faces allegations from this 2006 USO tour, where a fellow performer claims he forcibly kissed her and groped her for a comedy photo.
And a another woman says Franken grabbed her backside at the Minnesota State Fair.
In an interview with WCCO on Sunday, Franken apologized for possible misconduct, but said repeatedly he doesn't remember *any* incidents.
Franken was back at the Capitol in Washington Thursday, vowing to get back to work. But his political future is uncertain and the growing number of accusers makes it hard to turn the page.
"The problem for Al Franken today is a political one," political analyst Larry Jacobs said. "He's hit the reset button, but the story won't reset. He's stuck in a loop in which accusations from women continue to come forward."
A Franken spokesperson issued a written statement today:
"As Sen. Franken made clear this week, he takes thousands of photos and has met tens of thousands of people and he has never intentionally engaged in this kind of conduct. He remains fully committed to cooperating with the ethics investigation."