Planned Parenthood of Mohawk Hudson is slated to receive some of the funds from Sen. Al Franken’s political action committee that are being donated by a Democratic assemblyman from New York in the wake of news that Franken has been accused of forcibly kissing and groping the breasts of a journalist in 2006.
Assemblyman Anthony Brandisi, a Democrat challenging Republican U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney in New York’s 22nd Congressional District, received $1,500 from Franken’s Midwest Values PAC, reports Auburnpub.com. Brandisi said Thursday that, in light of the allegations against Franken, he will donate those funds to Planned Parenthood Mohawk Hudson and another family planning group in South Central New York.
“Sexual harassment is never a joke. Plain and simple,” Brandisi said, according to the news report.
Breitbart News reached out to Planned Parenthood Mohawk Hudson to ask if the organization will accept the regifted funds from Franken’s PAC. Emma Corbett, Director of Communications of the facility, responded with the following statement:
Planned Parenthood Mohawk Hudson will accept this donation, and it will be used to support our Victim Advocacy Services team that provides our region in Upstate New York a 24hr/7 day a week rape crisis, domestic violence, and crime victims support hotline.
This team accompanies survivors of these crimes through forensic rape examinations, visits to police stations, and supports them as they navigate the criminal justice system. They also support victims with counseling, access to hygiene and personal items, and assists them in seeking medical and financial support through New York State Office of Victim Services.
Planned Parenthood Federation of America and other national feminist abortion rights organizations have been major supporters of Franken and his senatorial campaigns.
In 2014, Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards campaigned for Franken in Minnesota.
“I’m so happy to be in Minnesota today on behalf of Sen. Al Franken today and to make sure he goes back to the United States Senate,” Richards says in a campaign video. “Since Al Franken came to Washington, DC, he’s been an extraordinary champion for women and for Planned Parenthood.”
“Al Franken is not just a vote for women, he’s a leader for women,” the abortion giant’s president said.
Similarly, abortion rights lobbying group NARAL Pro-Choice America invited Franken as its keynote speaker in 2010.
As Breitbart News reported in March 2015, Franken joked at abortion political action organization EMILY’s List’s gala, “First of all, I apologize for being a guy.”
Franken praised the group’s president Stephanie Schriock for expanding the group’s membership.
“Admittedly she had some help from Todd Akin and Rush Limbaugh, countless other meatheads around the country, whose view of certain gender issues are somewhat at odds with ours,” Franken added.
Breitbart News reached out to Planned Parenthood, EMILY’s List, and NARAL Pro-Choice America for comments on the accusations against Franken, but received no response.