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U.S. NEWS Tuesday 23 July 2019

Franken says he ‘absolutely’ regrets resigning from Senate

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — For- resignation. Some Demo-
mer Democratic U.S. Sen. cratic donors have turned
Al Franken of Minnesota away from Gillibrand be-
told The New Yorker mag- cause of that, hurting her
azine in a story published 2020 bid for the presidency.
Monday that he “absolute- “I’d do it again today,” Gil-
ly” regrets resigning from librand said in the article.
the Senate after several “If a few wealthy donors
women accused him of un- are angry about that, it’s
wanted kissing or touching. on them.”
In the same article, seven Asked at an event in New
current or former sena- York late Monday if she
tors say they regret calling regretted calling for Fran-
for Franken’s resignation ken’s resignation, Gillibrand
in December 2017. Fran- said she “could have told”
ken resigned his seat after any of the senators who are
conservative talk radio host now expressing remorse
Leeann Tweeden and sev- that “there is no prize for
en other women accused someone who tries to hold
him of sexual harassment. accountable a powerful
The article, Franken’s first man who is good at his day
interview since leaving the job. But we should have the
Senate, calls into ques- courage to do it anyway.”
tion some of the assertions In this Dec. 7, 2017, file photo, Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., second from right, holds hands with his “So no,” Gillibrand added.
against Franken and quotes wife Franni Bryson, left, as he leaves the Capitol after speaking on the Senate floor on Capitol Hill “I do not have any regrets.”
several female former staff in Washington. She also noted that female
members and close friends Associated Press senators like herself were
who described him as “I can’t go anywhere with- and that there was nothing “I wish I was in that group,” hounded every day about
physically clumsy but not out people reminding me inappropriate about his be- she said. whether they would call for
predatory. of this, usually with some havior. Seven senators who had Franken’s resignation while
Franken said at the time version of ‘You shouldn’t Tweeden also released a called for Franken’s resig- their male colleagues were
that the allegations were have resigned,’” he told photo showing Franken, nation said they’d been not.
false, and he repeats that the magazine. who was then a comedian, wrong to do so. They are “Let’s be clear, there is
in The New Yorker article. Tweeden alleged in 2017 reaching out toward her Democratic Sen. Patrick absolutely a double stan-
A former comedian who that Franken told her dur- breasts, as if to grope her, Leahy of Vermont, now-for- dard,” Gillibrand said.
made his name on “Satur- ing a USO tour to entertain as she slept in a flak jack- mer Democratic Sen. Heidi “Women are asked to
day Night Live,” Franken soldiers in 2006 that he had et while on a military air- Heitkamp of North Dakota, hold accountable their
resigned amid a national written a comedy skit with craft during the USO tour. Democratic Sen. Tammy colleagues; the men are
wave of sexual harassment her in mind that required The New Yorker reported Duckworth of Illinois, inde- not. Who is being held ac-
allegations against men in her to kiss him. She said that the pose echoed an- pendent Sen. Angus King countable for Al Franken’s
powerful positions as the Franken forcibly kissed her other USO skit in which a of Maine, Democratic Sen. decision to resign? Women
#MeToo movement was and stuck his tongue in her “Dr. Franken” approaches Jeff Merkley of Oregon, senators, including me. It’s
gaining momentum. mouth during a rehearsal of Tweeden’s character with Democratic Sen. Tom Udall outrageous. It’s absurd.”
Both Franken and Tweeden the sketch before they per- his hands aiming at her of New Mexico and now- Franken was replaced in
had called for an inde- formed it in Afghanistan. breasts. former Democratic Sen. Bill the Senate by Tina Smith,
pendent investigation at The New Yorker cited two Tweeden, during her KABC- Nelson of Florida. a Democrat appointed
the time, but none was actresses, Karri Turner and AM radio show in California Leahy said that seeking by Democratic Gov. Mark
conducted before fellow Traylor Portman, who had on Monday, briefly reacted Franken’s resignation with- Dayton who had been
Democrats forced Franken played the same role as to The New Yorker article by out first getting all the facts serving as his lieutenant
to resign three weeks after Tweeden on earlier USO saying she wishes she had was “one of the biggest governor. Smith won a spe-
Tweeden made her claims. tours with Franken. Both been among the women mistakes I’ve made” in his cial election in 2018 and is
Asked by The New Yorker told the magazine that who performed the kissing 45-year Senate career. running in 2020 for a full six-
whether he regretted step- they had performed the skit with Franken and didn’t U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand year term. Several Republi-
ping down, Franken said: same role as Tweeden on feel like they had been ha- of New York was among cans are weighing bids to
“Oh, yeah. Absolutely.” earlier tours with Franken rassed. the first to call for Franken’s challenge her.q

2 fired over post suggesting Ocasio-Cortez should be shot

GRETNA, La. (AP) — Two members apparent reference to her having newspaper reported that Rispoli’s “Whether it was a joke or it wasn’t
of a police department in a New once been a bartender. post included a fake story with a a joke, it was improper to make a
Orleans suburb were fired Monday Officer Angelo Varisco was fired for fabricated quote to make it ap- comment like that, to insinuate a
— one for a Facebook post calling “liking” the post. pear as if Ocasio-Cortez said “We violent act against an individual,
U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez “It’s very disappointing,” Lawson pay soldiers too much.” against an elected official, against
a “vile idiot” and suggesting that said, adding that the Gretna de- Lawson said the offending post a seated U.S. congressman,” Law-
she be shot, the other for “liking” partment trains officers on diversity has been removed and that the son said. “We’ve seen this, we’ve
the post. issues and use of social media — department has contacted Face- experienced an act like this,” he
Gretna Police Chief Arthur Law- and that officers were undergoing book to see whether any other of- added, noting that Rep. Steve
son announced the terminations such training this month. ficers were involved. Scalise of Jefferson was shot and
Monday. Officer Charlie Rispoli Lawson said an internal investiga- Lawson said both officers cooper- seriously wounded by a gunman in
was fired for a post saying Ocasio- tion began after he was informed ated in the investigation and he 2017 in Virginia while practicing for
Cortez “needs a round” and not of the post by The Times-Picayune/ does not believe either intended an annual congressional baseball
“the kind she used to serve” — an The New Orleans Advocate. The violence. game.q