Leeann Tweeden, the morning anchor for KABC 790 radio in Los Angeles, took to Twitter this morning with a #MeToo story of her own saying Al Franke “kissed and groped her without her consent” during a USO tour in 2006.
And there’s really no way for Franken to deny it:
I’ve decided it’s time to tell my story. #MeToohttps://t.co/TqTgfvzkZg
— Leeann Tweeden (@LeeannTweeden) November 16, 2017
Ms. Tweeden writes that she was only supposed to emcee the acts, but Franken had other plans:
Franken had written some skits for the show and brought props and costumes to go along with them. Like many USO shows before and since, the skits were full of sexual innuendo geared toward a young, male audience.
As a TV host and sports broadcaster, as well as a model familiar to the audience from the covers of FHM, Maxim and Playboy, I was only expecting to emcee and introduce the acts, but Franken said he had written a part for me that he thought would be funny, and I agreed to play along.
And that’s when then comedian, current senator forced himself on her under the guise of rehearsal:
He repeated that actors really need to rehearse everything and that we must practice the kiss. I said ‘OK’ so he would stop badgering me. We did the line leading up to the kiss and then he came at me, put his hand on the back of my head, mashed his lips against mine and aggressively stuck his tongue in my mouth.
I immediately pushed him away with both of my hands against his chest and told him if he ever did that to me again I wouldn’t be so nice about it the next time.
I walked away. All I could think about was getting to a bathroom as fast as possible to rinse the taste of him out of my mouth.
I felt disgusted and violated.
Not long after, I performed the skit as written, carefully turning my head so he couldn’t kiss me on the lips.
Ms. Leeden didn’t know about the photo above until after the trip was over:
It wasn’t until I was back in the US and looking through the CD of photos we were given by the photographer that I saw this one:
I couldn’t believe it. He groped me, without my consent, while I was asleep.
I felt violated all over again. Embarrassed. Belittled. Humiliated.
How dare anyone grab my breasts like this and think it’s funny?
I told my husband everything that happened and showed him the picture.
I wanted to shout my story to the world with a megaphone to anyone who would listen, but even as angry as I was, I was worried about the potential backlash and damage going public might have on my career as a broadcaster.
But that was then, this is now. I’m no longer afraid.
Game over, Al. Time to resign:
.@alfranken needs to go
Lets see if the
World's Greatest Deliberative BodyCan get rid of a lowlife
Ball is in your court
US Senate https://t.co/DgKym1XqBk— Jim Hanson (@JimHansonDC) November 16, 2017
Even those on the Left know he’s cooked:
Fucking hell. https://t.co/XQJTYAazex
— Michael Ian Black (@michaelianblack) November 16, 2017
Grabbing a woman's breasts while she is asleep on the plane is not a fucking joke. It's not funny. It's dead wrong. I don't care who he is now or who he was then. https://t.co/2tFCY4zadu
— Shaun King (@shaunking) November 16, 2017
Yikes — Al Franken "groped me, without my consent, while I was asleep." https://t.co/YSnopkawOw
— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) November 16, 2017
Game over, that is, unless team Franken can claim that Kevlar vests stop sexual assault:
And ALREADY, two Franken apologists saying he didn't actually touch her, though she says he did.
Breitbart should hire these guys.
— RICO chart hat (@NonWhiteHat) November 16, 2017
Update. More victims ahead?
I've already heard about a second Al Franken victim.
— Phil Kerpen (@kerpen) November 16, 2017
Read Ms. Tweeden’s entire piece here.
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