Sen. Richard Durbin said Sunday that fellow Democratic Sen. Al Franken has acted responsibly in his reaction to allegations of sexual assault by several women.
“Al Franken has acknowledged what he has done is wrong,” Mr. Durbin, Illinois Democrat, told CNN, noting that Mr. Franken has submitted his case to the ethics committee. “Let’s have a hearing and an investigation. Let’s let this reach whatever conclusion this is going to reach.”
At least four women have accused Mr. Franken of sexual assault, and the Minnesota Democrat has apologized for his actions.
Three women have said that Mr. Franken inappropriately grabbed their buttocks during photo opportunities at three separate events. Two of the women came forward with their stories anonymously to the Huffington Post.
Mr. Franken issued a second apology Friday, telling The Associated Press he realized his embraces during photographs could make women feel uncomfortable.
“I’ve thought a lot in recent days about how that could happen, and recognize that I need to be much more careful and sensitive in these situations. I feel terribly that I’ve made some women feel badly and for that I am so sorry, and I want to make sure that never happens again,” he said.
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Earlier this month Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Republican, called for an ethics investigation into Mr. Franken and Sen. Bob Menendez, New Jersey Democrat, whose corruption trial ended in a hung jury this month.
Mr. McConnell also said Roy Moore, Alabama’s GOP Senate candidate, could face an ethics investigation if he wins the Dec. 12 special election. Several women have accused him of pursuing and molesting them when they were teenagers and he was in his 30s. Mr. Moore has denied the allegations.
“Others who have tried to run away from charges, you have to say Al Franken has faced it. And he’s done it in a responsible way,” said Mr. Durbin, the Senate’ second-ranking Democrat.
• Alex Swoyer can be reached at aswoyer@washingtontimes.com.
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