Twitter explodes over Franken groping allegations

Twitter exploded on Thursday over allegations from a KABC radio anchor that Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) groped her without consent in 2006 while flying to a USO Tour event in the Middle East. 

The incident, which included photographic evidence, occurred three years before the former “Saturday Night Live” star won his Senate seat. 

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“It wasn’t until I was back in the U.S. and looking through the CD of photos we were given by the photographer that I saw this one,” Leeann Tweeden wrote in a piece on KABC.com, a Los Angeles-based ABC radio affiliate. 

“I felt violated all over again. Embarrassed. Belittled. Humiliated,” she wrote. “How dare anyone grab my breasts like this and think it’s funny?”

Tweeden included a photo of Franken, who has been married since 1975, grabbing her breasts while smiling back at the camera.

I’ve decided it’s time to tell my story. #MeToohttps://t.co/TqTgfvzkZg

— Leeann Tweeden (@LeeannTweeden) November 16, 2017

The reaction on social media was swift as Franken shot to the top of Twitter’s trending list of most-discussed topics on the site in a matter of minutes after the story broke.

The photo in this story alleging Al Franken kissed/groped a woman against her will is … jarring. This is going to be a major problem on Capitol Hill. https://t.co/KjoTmptift pic.twitter.com/EAaQkqFWd4

— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) November 16, 2017

Everyone who wrote “Wow, Bill Clinton should have resigned” essays are working on their “Step Down, Al Franken” essays right now, right? https://t.co/zdXPB2r7T0 pic.twitter.com/Z5snbL1rov

— Sonny Bunch (@SonnyBunch) November 16, 2017

This photo is really bad news for Al Franken, rarely is there photographic evidence of these allegations… https://t.co/RUFs8Lcxz6 pic.twitter.com/yLnw981p9J

— Sarah Westwood (@sarahcwestwood) November 16, 2017

Have written and rewritten several tweets about Al Franken but honestly all I have to say is “what the hell is wrong with people?”

— Jamelle Bouie (@jbouie) November 16, 2017

In light of stories like this and more, we should demand Congress expose its own history of sexual assault and harassment. https://t.co/RUxM97gxJO

— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) November 16, 2017

Al Franken must resign. https://t.co/pCvTkoJRZZ

— Joel B. Pollak (@joelpollak) November 16, 2017

Franken apologized to Tweeden in a brief statement. 

“I certainly don’t remember the rehearsal for the skit in the same way, but I send my sincerest apologies to Leeann. As to the photo, it was clearly intended to be funny but wasn’t. I shouldn’t have done it,” he said.

There has been speculation that Franken may run for president in 2020. He was floated as a possible running mate for former Democratic White House nominee Hillary Clinton.