The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) is calling on Democratic candidates across the country to return campaign donations from Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) following the revelation that the lawmaker made nonconsensual sexual advances toward a woman who was traveling with him on a USO trip in 2006.
“These allegations are disgusting and Democrats who took Senator Franken’s campaign money need to take action,” NRCC Communications Director Matt Gorman said in a statement.
“Return his donations and do it immediately,” Gorman said.
Leeann Tweeden, a journalist who anchors the morning news at TalkRadio 790 KABC in Los Angeles, California, accused Franken on Thursday of fondling her while asleep and shoving his tongue down her throat without her consent.
At the time, Tweeden had a boyfriend, who is now her husband, and was on a two week USO Tour with then-55-year-old Franken and others. Included in her article is a photograph that shows the Democrat senator grabbing her breasts while she was asleep.
According to Tweeden, the unwanted kiss occurred during a rehearsal for a USO skit. She believes Franken, who was married, intentionally wrote a skit for the two of them so he would have an excuse to kiss her, something she did not want to do. She says that Franken insisted they rehearse, but when it got uncomfortable, she relented. This is when she alleges he “aggressively” shoved his tongue in her mouth.
The list of Democratic candidates who have received campaign donations from Sen. Al Franken is as follows:
• Brindisi, Anthony (D-NY) $1,500
• Bryce, Randy (D-WI) $1,500
• Finkenauer, Abby (D-IA) $1,500
• Houlahan, Chrissy (D-PA) $1,500
• Kihuen, Ruben (D-NV) $1,500
• McCollum, Betty (D-MN) $5,000
• Sherrill, Mikie (D-NJ) $1,500
• Slotkin, Elissa (D-MI) $1,500
The NRCC is a political organization that works to increase the Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.