Warren: Franken allegations ‘unacceptable and deeply disappointing’

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) on Thursday chastised Democratic colleague Sen. Al Franken (Minn.) after a woman accused him of groping and kissing her without her consent.

“The behavior reported today is unacceptable and deeply disappointing,” Warren said in a statement, joining a number of other Democrats in condemning the reported behavior.

“I am glad Senator Franken has acknowledged as much and has agreed to cooperate with an ethics investigation. Women who come forward are brave and deserve to be respected,” Warren continued.

“We’re not going to fix the problems of sexual harassment and assault until men take responsibility for their actions and change their behavior.” 

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Her remarks came after Franken issued an apology to Leeann Tweeden, a radio anchor, who said the former “Saturday Night Live” writer groped her in December 2006 while she was sleeping when returning from a USO tour overseas.

Tweeden also said that Franken forcibly kissed her as the two were alone rehearsing for a USO skit.

“The first thing I want to do is apologize: to Leeann, to everyone else who was part of that tour, to everyone who has worked for me, to everyone I represent, and to everyone who counts on me to be an ally and supporter and champion of women,” Franken, who entered office in 2009, said in a statement apologizing for the incident.

Franken also joined Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and a list of other lawmakers across the aisle who have called for an ethics investigation following Tweeden’s allegations.

Tweeden has since said she accepts Franken’s apology.