Trump tweets about Al "Frankenstien," stays silent about Moore
President Trump tweeted late Thursday night about the allegations that Democratic Sen. Al Franken "kissed and groped" a woman against her will -- but he did not comment on the sexual misconduct allegations against Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore.
"The Al Frankenstien picture is really bad, speaks a thousand words. Where do his hands go in pictures 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 while she sleeps?" Mr. Trump tweeted at 10:06 p.m. ET.
The Al Frankenstien picture is really bad, speaks a thousand words. Where do his hands go in pictures 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 while she sleeps? .....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 17, 2017
Anchor Leeann Tweeden said Thursday that Franken "kissed and groped" her while they were entertaining troops on a USO Tour in December 2006. Tweeden also released a photo of Franken groping her chest while she slept on a flight back to the United States from Afghanistan.
At 10:15 p.m. ET, Mr. Trump tweeted again about Franken, writing that "just last week he was lecturing anyone who would listen about sexual harassment and respect for women." He then wrote "Lesley Stahl tape?," a reference to a 1995 New York magazine article where Franken described a possible "Saturday Night Live" sketch that would have "60 Minutes'" Andy Rooney drugging and raping Lesley Stahl.
.And to think that just last week he was lecturing anyone who would listen about sexual harassment and respect for women. Lesley Stahl tape?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 17, 2017
The joke about Stahl was addressed in Franken's 2008 Senate campaign, and he issued a statement at the state party convention. In his recent book, "Al Franken, Giant of the Senate," he writes that it was a "joke for the room" and not intended to air, according to Slate. The sketch eventually ended with Andy Rooney sedating Mike Wallace and photographing him nude.
Meanwhile, Mr. Trump has not yet directly commented on any the allegations against Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore, who is accused of pursing young women when he was in his 30s. Two of those women have accused him of initiating unwanted sexual encounters.
White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Thursday that Mr. Trump "believes that these allegations are troubling and should be taken seriously, and he thinks that the people of Alabama should make the decision on who their next senator should be."
Correction: This article has been updated to correct an erroneous reference to Tweeden's allegations; she did not mention Mr. Trump.