© Jonathan Ernst / Reuters
U.S. Senator Al Franken
As
Leah and
Katie mentioned earlier, Minnesota Democratic Senator Al Franken is on an apology tour, groveling for forgiveness after four women have accused him of sexual misconduct and unwanted groping. His approval rating has
taken a nosedive back home, so something must be done. He's "let a lot of people down," he averred in a brief press conference this afternoon, evincing contrition.
But what, specifically, is Franken apologizing for? He's been quite explicit about his sorrow over groping a sleeping woman during a 2006 USO tour. Of course, he really has no choice on that front because there's
photographic evidence of him mugging for the camera as his hands cover an unconscious Leann Tweeden's breasts. "I am ashamed of that photo," Franken said in a Sunday interview. "You know she didn't have any ability to consent. She had every right to feel violated by that photo."
Fair enough, but what about the
other major element of Tweeden's accusation -- that Franken calculatingly and forcibly kissed her during a private rehearsal of a comedy sketch, and that he retaliated against her with
public ridicule after she shut down his unwanted advances?
He's "tremendously sorry" for all of that, too, even though he won't admit to doing any of it because he remembers the incident "differently:"
"On, uh, the kiss at the rehearsal -- we were rehearsing for a sketch -- I said that I recalled that differently from Leann. But I feel that you have to respect, um, women's experience."
Apologize for the undeniable bit, then deny the deniable part -- without
really denying it or attacking the accuser. Meanwhile, what about the three additional women who say Franken grabbed their rear ends while they posed for photos with him? He's got
an interesting explanation for that, too:
Comment: The likely fabricated stories concocted by WaPo to smear Roy Moore are falling apart at the seams: