According to Menz, she attended the Minnesota State Fair with her husband and father in the summer of 2010, almost two years after Franken was elected to the Senate. Her father's small business was sponsoring a local radio booth, and she spent the day meeting various elected officials, political candidates and celebrities and taking photos with them as they stopped by the booth.
When Franken walked in, Menz and her husband, who also spoke with CNN, said they recognized him right away. Menz said she had a brief and cordial exchange with the senator.
Then, as her husband held up her phone and got ready to snap a photo of the two of them, Franken "pulled me in really close, like awkward close, and as my husband took the picture, he put his hand full-fledged on my rear," Menz said. "It was wrapped tightly around my butt cheek."
"It wasn't around my waist. It wasn't around my hip or side. It was definitely on my butt," she said, recalling that the brazen act lasted three or four seconds. "I was like, oh my God, what's happening."
"He reached around her and kind of pulled her into him," said her husband Jeremy Menz, who didn't see what happened behind his wife. "He pulled her in and pushed his head against her head. It was over pretty quick."
Lindsay Menz told CNN that she walked away as soon as the photo was taken, without saying anything to the then-first term senator. When she reconnected with her husband moments later, she told him: "He totally grabbed my butt." Jeremy Menz described that conversation the same way to CNN.
Okay, really?
This sounds more like accidental hand placement than it does an actual groping.
Gee, it's kinda like the conservatives are desperate to inflate every perceived transgression, no matter how minor, supposedly committed by a well known liberal so that they can direct faux outrage at them in order to divert attention away from an Alabama Senate candidate who is accused of pedophilia and multiple episodes of sexual harassment and assault.
Yeah, yeah it feels very much like that.
For his part Al Franken has of course apologized, because that is the kind of guy he is:
"I take thousands of photos at the state fair surrounded by hundreds of people, and I certainly don't remember taking this picture," Franken said. "I feel badly that Ms. Menz came away from our interaction feeling disrespected."
I will assume that the next allegation will be a woman claiming sexual assault because Franken's elbow inadvertently brushed her boob while he was signing an autograph.
Update: The women of SNL have something to add.
JUST IN: Women staff of "Saturday Night Live" sign letter in support of Sen. Al Franken pic.twitter.com/osN6IwMgvB
— NBC News (@NBCNews) November 21, 2017
My prediction? Thanks for asking for it .... Franken will be forced from his Senate seat; Moore will win election in December and then be ‘replaced’ by a an easily manipulated naive Republican of McConnell’s choice. Steve Bannon will vow revenge on McConnell; and ramp up his attacks on McConnell, all the while continue drinking and turning into an alcoholic vegetable.
ReplyDeleteNo, he won't.
DeleteFranken will not resign over this. And his constituents will re-elect him.
*IF* Moore wins, he won't even be seated. Luther Strange will be appointed in his place.
I am holding out hope that Doug Applegate will manage to squeak by a win. Then, after serving a term, Alabama will realize that his isn't Satan incarnated, is doing a pretty damned good job of representing them and they'll re-elect him.
It lasted 3-4 seconds??? Seriously,this is getting ridiculous, why didn't she say get your hand off my butt?
ReplyDeleteHope she enjoys her 5 the same mins of fame and testifying in Congress about this "horrific" 3-4 secs.
I'm waiting for them to dig up women to accuse Joe Biden.
She should try taking a bus in Italy where they try and rub against you,she wouldn't last a minute. I lived there 10 years and believe me between the"close encounters" on public transportation and the men grabbing their crotch,at a certain point you develop a sense of humor and a big mouth-tell them to get away.
As a seventy-three year old woman, I must say that this whole thing has become ridiculous. This is the right wing media trying desperately to create a false equivalence between Al Franken and Roy Moore. They chose Franken because he's well known, has a comedic background, is smart and has been outspoken in his criticism of the current administration and especially of its chief evil elf, AG Sessions.
DeleteBeaglemom
http://www.politicususa.com/2017/11/21/36-women-worked-snl-sign-statement-support-al-franken.html
DeleteI heard she went on soc media and told people and could document that this did happen. It was the best thing she had going for her, her photo proves nothing.
DeleteI haven't found her proof of going on soc media. I hear she deleted everything. To me that is proof she is not legit. If she comes up with her soc media later, she may be able to restore some legitimacy?
This 3-4 second incident, with her husband taking the picture is not going to be a case of any sort and she will never have to answer questions or explain anything. It is just another accuser assault incident with a well known person. In a couple of years the Senate ethics peeps may say they investigated and what happened.
Was it a state fair? A federal employee at a state event? They might have a faster way to deal with something like this.
Not sure when or where in Italy you were, but I spent three weeks there May 2016 and was in Florence, Sienna, Bologna, Venice, Verona and Milan and took public transportation everywhere or walked. Never was groped, touched or disrespected in any way, not even on the Milan subway. In fact, the encounters I had were always courteous and polite with no physical contact.
DeleteYeah, even Italy makes the U.S. look misogynist and exploitative.
I lived in Bologna for 10 years during the end of 70's and 80's.
DeleteMost of the crotch grippers were the guys from the south doing military duty,it seems like most guys from the south have that problem.
We use to ask them,in Italian,if they lost something.
I had so called respectable men proposition me in the bank.
Being a tourist is nothing like living there,you Don't know what is really going on like the bets to pick up women on Pointe Vecchio or Rimini
So is this the republican plan,to bring out thousand of women with ridiculous accusations in order to normalize the serious ones?
ReplyDeleteIf so and women buy into it,this is going to blow up very quickly.
Yes. Accidental touching is to be the same as aggressive predators seeking underage people.
DeleteSome of the accusers are out to ruin MeToo. So legit victims will not speak up about predators.
They need a MeMayBe movement for these flakes.
DeleteBill Maher addressed this last Friday night with his own #me too being I know the difference between a nerd and a sexual predator.
DeleteShe doesn't look too distraught in the photo. Where's the photo o9f him grabbing her butt?
ReplyDeleteYou'd think if someone had their hand cupped on your butt cheek without your permission and you were uncomfortable or surprised, it would show in the photo.
DeleteWho has that sort of self-control if they were so offended?
Why not just swat his hand away or tell him to get his hand off,worried wouldn't get the picture?
DeleteHe didn't corner her in alone in a room,she could have even said something to her husband in those 3-4secs,like you won't believe this honey,but Al has his hand on my butt!
And who grabs a strange guys' wife's ass in front of her husband?
ReplyDeleteAnd what guy whose wife tells him that someone just grabbed her butt, even a US Senator, does nothing. And where were they in 2014 when he ran for re-election? And if that was my wife, and he was grabbing her butt, there would not b a smile on her face.
DeleteAnd her father, with a camera pointed at them, in a very public place, while running for office. Not buying it.
DeleteWhere are her father's pictures?
DeleteThat was from George H. W. Bush playbook, but without the joke: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/27/us/politics/george-bush-women.html
ReplyDeleteTrump and Jared do this. There are several pictures of both of them with their hands on rears. Princess and Jared even stood in front of their entryway mirror before an event, and his hand is firmly on her butt. Doesn't make it right, and Princess can slap her own husband (except she's been conditioned to accept this crap) but I think we're getting to the tipping point now...will men no longer get close to a woman because they might be accused of something?
ReplyDeleteShe is suspicious. She deleted all or most of her tweets from 2013 until her allegation against Franken. Also deleted her Instagram account! She has only been retweeted by one person, Roger Stone. Frequent caller on Sean Hannity radio show. Can’t show the response she sent to her sister on Facebook.
ReplyDeleteI smell a fraud!
Rodger Stone needs to rot in hell that dirty bastard. He's behind all this along with his pal Steve Bannon. I hope they rot in jail forever
DeleteRodger is not the only '$tone' being unturned.
DeleteLeave none.
Is she a registered Republican? Not that that alone would discredit her. But it might go toward motivation.
DeleteI’m a survivor of sexual assault. When I️ read this latest account, my thought was “really?!” Her husband was there for gods sake. This was not assault. There is going to be a backlash about sexual assaults, and BS like this is going to be the cause.
ReplyDeleteFor reference I am 62 and experienced my husband’s boss grab my buttock and squeeze it at a cocktail party. His wife was standing at his other side and several people facing us to chat.
ReplyDeleteI do not consider someone getting close for a photo a sexual assault. I also do respect for this woman she did not want her personal space invaded. She comes across that leaning his head in was also assaultive. I came from a cold family and had to learn how to lean in for photos which is not to sexually assault anyone.
We are not invalidating this woman’s dislike of being pulled close for the photo or where his hand was. I agree this does not pass the threshold of sexual assault to cross an unknown boundary of a stranger Franken did not solicit.
Are comments broken again?
ReplyDeleteThis is where the movement fails: when women come forward to complain about every little thing that ever made them think, "WTF?" that they could have--and IMO should have---dealt with at the time.
ReplyDeleteThere was nothing stopping this woman from saying "hey, keep your hands off my butt" or even the classic "don't be fresh!" in this very public place to a guy she would see again.
Franken had no power over here. There was no downside to making her discomfort known. To be honest, I don't think her level of discomfort is everyone else's. I certainly wouldn't have called that "groping" if I were in that situation (hand touching my butt in a photo op with a celebrity I would never see again.)
As more women come forward to complain about moments like this, moments where they weren't powerless to speak up, you will start to hear the words "witch hunts" more and more.
There's momentum here for women now, and we can't squander it, but we will. The cynic in me says this pendulum is going to swing back, probably even further.
This is where the movement fails:
DeleteIt is positive if we finally learn about the USO. Their front is charitable, doing it for service members, supporting the troops. Volunteer and give money.
The military has horrendous problems with sexism. The dark side of service members does not need approval or encouragement. Men and women offenders can get by with plenty and like the government no one knows much about how they are rejecting and calling accountable assaults, rapes and all of it.
The USO is known for feeding the carnal side of service members. It's all fun, funny and light weight. Those are natural feelings and what a nice release. What is not nice is if things go bad, if things behind the scenes are wrongly handled.
The USO fails if they are keeping secrets and giving approval with their staged acts and lack of accountability.
I agree with lisab2595. Sexual assault and harassment needs to be reported. Stupid things like this Woman is claiming is rediculous and will harm what advancements we women are making.
DeleteYes!
DeleteI’m beginning to think these “assault lite” accusations against Franklin are political in nature and are made strictly to get rid of him or shut him up. It’s a shame, because it minimizes the impact of sexual assault.
ReplyDeleteAgreed.
DeleteAgree
DeleteDuh.
DeleteThey're trolling for Democrats and liberals to smear just to normalize Molester Moore.
https://www.rawstory.com/2017/11/breitbart-editor-in-chief-rape-used-to-mean-something-now-its-any-sex-the-woman-ends-up-regretting/
ReplyDelete"“You guys can do this in your own mind, where rape used to mean something,” he continued. “We used to all knew what it meant. And then now we don’t know what it means. And then we don’t know what’s credible and what’s not. And now everyone is going to come forward.”
EVERYONE.
OLIVER STIONE>"“He wrote this special scene that he wanted me to do for him physically in the casting room, and it was humiliating and horrid,” Gilbert said in an interview with Sirius XM’s Andy Cohen, adding that she refused to perform the scene and fled the casting room."
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thedailybeast.com/oliver-stone-accused-of-sexual-harassment-by-melissa-gilbert-i-left-crying
I support Franken too! Don't believe a damn word that some of these women are spreading. Truly suspect they are trying to get their five minutes of fame!
ReplyDeleteFranken is too good and nice a guy!!!
(Review his record and check the facts!)
Horrible that this kind of stuff can bring terror and horror to a man's life. Not ALL men are evil, ladies! I'm a senior and was brought up and worked in environments where men did compliment you on your attire. I don't recall ever taking offense to it as it never put me on the defensive!
Not ALL men are evil
DeleteSo true. It is imperative that both women and men stand up and speak up for men like Al Franken.
The image that was posted does show something going on. It is a world of difference if it is part of the entertainers high jinks or someone having a picture taken of an assault.
The picture is back up for the alleged rehearsal kiss. It is also instant viral and ask questions later. It has had it's effect and by the time it can be looked into it won't matter how it is determined.
The harm has been done.
It would be prudent to give a little more time for the Franken situation to play out. This could still easily swing in a unpleasant direction.
ReplyDeleteReasonable people will give it more time.
DeleteOthers have an immediate agenda.
Minneapolis Star Tribune, Nov. 17
Sen. Al Franken's behavior on USO tour cannot be excused
Excerpts from recent Minnesota editorials http://www.bnd.com/news/business/article185603668.html
Yeah, lots of witnesses. And yet her eyes don't even widen in that shot? Suuuuuuuuurrrre.
ReplyDeleteYou know, of the two in that photo, Franken looks the more uncomfortable.
DeleteYou know Franken is really,really short.If you are used to your tall husbands arm around you,then a short mans hand would land lower and you might think it intentional.
ReplyDeleteRight now several well dressed professionals are having a news conference in support of Judge Roy Moore. They are going into detail at times to refute what the accusers have claimed. The political strategist for Moore says don't answer questions, just say you are not answering the Jerry Springer (media show). It is impressive for the voters of Alabama.
ReplyDeleteTrump is leaving for Florida vacation. He is not going to say anything about Moore.
Is it possible for people to stand up for Al Franken?
There will be no court case or anyway to say what happened with Franken accusers. It is only the accusations. Franken is not campaigning right now. As I understand he can do his job unless he resigns. He can work and wait out the investigation. There may be more to drop or there may not be. Franken is essentially gagged.
How is this effecting his job? I know people that believe he is essential to the tax relief issues. He will give his best to his work, but the constant loud undermining is not helping.
Good for SNL.
ReplyDeleteThe USO also must make a statement. Tweeden makes it look bad for that organization. These tours may have serious problems with inappropriate and assaulting behaviors. The victims hesitate and were afraid to speak up to the organization? It sounds as bad, worse, than Congress and the Senate.
USO has used pin-up women for the troops for years, Bob Hope had material for his jokes and was admired and loved for it. Sexual teasing, innuendos and all that.
Who knows what goes on with the volunteers behind the scenes?
Bill O'Reilly sold a book and was a USO tour volunteer, I think it was Afghanistan. It may have been one time when he stopped his assaulting and harassing behaviors? Or it may have been easy for him to get by with his bad behaviors because the USO was a good cover, he would know how it operates and what it tolerates.
Many actors, Hollywood types and performers. If they are predators in their jobs and life in the states, they would stop with the predatory behaviors when they are in such an opportunistic atmosphere, where teasing and come-ons are part of some of the acts?
It is time the USO stops acting like they are not part of this. At some point their atomosphere and professional ways of dealing with problems needs to be established.
That one USO photo, sent out on a CD years ago, suddenly had the power to take down a Senator before any investigation or questioning of the photo. The USO used it on their CD, I doubt they thought it was a violation or a crime in progress. I doubt the photog or USO saw it as a volunteer assaulting or hurting another volunteer.
Or they did and they are complicit with the act. They need to say what is happening with the photo and was it okay and now it is not okay? Explain.
Bill O'Reilly vs. The USO & Drowning Pool
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ft3K9EFw6sY
According to BillO the USO owes him for all he did for them
"Powell explained that the USO sends tours all over the world and did 700 this year. He noted that they are told by the military where to go and they can not request a location especially since they depend on the military to provide security and lifts." USO President Edmund
http://www.newshounds.us/2007/12/21/bill_oreilly_credited_with_uso_tours_in_afghanistan_and_iraq.php
Bill O’Reilly Insults The USO
Amongst the previous guests was the man that O’Reilly will only refer to as Stuart Smalley. Al Franken has, in fact, participated in six USO tours. And rather than going to promote a new book, he brought along country singers, TV stars, cheerleaders and put on a three hour show.On His Afghan Junket
https://www.newscorpse.com/ncWP/?p=669
USO to Bill O’Reilly: ‘Set the record straight’ on Afghanistan
“If you really want to support America’s service men and women and their families, please set the record straight,” USO Chief Executive Edward Powel
http://www.ocregister.com/2007/11/20/uso-to-bill-oreilly-set-the-record-straight-on-afghanistan/
O'Reilly Factor Tribute to Bob Hope
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDHVwKLkyjQ
I have had boobs, crotch, and butt aggressively and not so aggressively grabbed. I've also had them accidentally grabbed and bumped, and when you are a young female, you learn the difference pretty fast. Also, some people are just more "touchy-feely" than the rest of us, and Al Franken strikes me as the touchy-feely sort. If he wasn't, he probably wouldn't let thousands of people hug him and get their pictures taken with him at the fair every year. I am not a touchy-feely sort, and that whole experience would be torture for me. I would freak out if a strange woman leaned her head against mine for a picture! I'd like to also note that this woman approached Al Franken, not the other way around, and she certainly doesn't have any type of astonished or pained look on her face, which is what happened when I was once grabbed on the butt while posing for a picture with a group of young males.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the Tweeden incident, the picture was in poor taste, but then you see the footage of the US0 shows that they were doing, and Ms. Tweeden is right in there grabbing butts and being overtly sexual to men, who I am assuming are not her husband. If that was the environment that everyone was working in, then I can see how Franken might have thought that a staged picture of him pretending to grab Ms. Tweeden's boobs while she was sleeping, might be an acceptable prank, or perhaps it was payback for her grabbing him earlier that day. At first I believed Ms. Tweeden, but the more I listened to her, the more I suspected that it was a set-up. And then you throw in the fact that Roger Stone seemed to ever so presciently know beforehand, just like with the Clinton email Wikileaks, that Al Franken was about to get hammered by a sexual harassment allegation, and it makes me think that something is really stinking in Denmark. I hope they do launch a Senate investigation into the Tweeden charges. Either she'll be validated or perhaps some interesting connections with people who are out to get Al Franken will be discovered?