On Thursday, Democratic Sen. Al Franken was accused of sexual assault by a female radio host. In the aftermath, Donald Trump decided to comment.
Trump on Franken
Ever since the New York Times reported their bombshell story exposing decades of sexual assault and harassment allegations against film producer Harvey Weinstein, the flood gates have opened for even more women to come forward with similar claims. From Louis C.K., to Kevin Spacey, to even George Takei, the allegations have been reported on an almost daily basis. While many in Hollywood have been on the receiving end of the claims, politicians are now feeling the heat.
Just last week, the Washington Post broke their own story claiming that Roy Moore, Republican Senate nominee in Alabama, had allegedly attempted to engage in sexual activity with at least four underage girls dating back to 1979. Since then, at least two more women have come forward with similar stories. On Thursday, morning news anchor for Talk Radio 790 KABC in Los Angeles, Leeann Tweeden, accused Democratic Sen. Al Franken of forcibly kissing her in 2006 during a USO tour, while also providing a picture of the senator mockingly grabbing her chest. Franken has since apologized, which Tweeden accepted, but that didn't stop Donald Trump from speaking out during a pair of tweets on November 16.
The Al Frankenstien picture is really bad, speaks a thousand words. Where do his hands go in pictures 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 while she sleeps? .....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 17, 2017
Taking to Twitter on Thursday night, Donald Trump gave his thoughts about the allegations against Al Franken. "The Al Frankenstien picture is really bad, speaks a thousand words," Trump tweeted out.
"Where do his (Franken) hands go in pictures 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 while she sleeps?...." he added.
.And to think that just last week he was lecturing anyone who would listen about sexual harassment and respect for women. Lesley Stahl tape?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 17, 2017
Not stopping there, Donald Trump decided to double down with a follow-up tweet.
"And to think that just last week he was lecturing anyone who would listen about sexual harassment and respect for women," Trump tweeted, before asking, "Lesley Stahl tape?" Trump's comments about the "Lesley Stahl tape" is in reference to a joke Franken made in a New York Magazine article back in 1995. "I give the pills to Lesley Stahl. Then when Lesley is passed out, I take her to the closet and ra*e her," Franken said, in regards to a potential skit on "Saturday Night Live" where he was working at the time.
"I've been angry about it ... for over 10 years," says Al Franken accuser Leeann Tweeden, telling her story to CNN's @jaketapper https://t.co/9fs5TgoaM0 pic.twitter.com/slp4IXLibE
— CNN (@CNN) November 17, 2017
Next up
While Donald Trump appears quick to comment about Al Franken, he's been quiet about the scandal involving Roy Moore.
During a press briefing at the White House on Thursday, Sarah Huckabee Sanders confirmed that while the president believes the allegations are "troubling," he doesn't believe Moore should drop out of the race.