Donald Trump Draws Ire As He Comments On Al Franken Sexual Harassment Allegation

Minnesota Sen. Al Frankin was accused this week of sexually assaulting sports broadcaster and model Leeann Tweeden. Donald Trump took to Twitter to chide the senator, only to reminded of the allegations against himself.

DONALD TRUMP COMMENTS ON AL FRANKEN ALLEGATION

Tweeden shared her story in a published essay this week, saying that Franken, at the time a comedian on Saturday Night Live, accompanied her to a USO show for the troops in Afghanistan. Franken forced a kiss on her, saying it was rehearsal for their skit, and later on the plane home, took a photo of himself touching her breasts as she slept. He has since apologized for his behavior.

“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? …..” tweeted Trump in two posts. “.And to think that just last week he was lecturing anyone who would listen about sexual harassment and respect for women. Lesley Stahl tape?”

The post immediately drew comparisons to Trump’s own history of accused sexual assault, starting with the leaked Access Hollywood tape in which he bragged about assaulting women without their permission. The now-president apologized for his words, but later defended them as “locker room talk.” Several women have come forward to accuse Trump of assault, but nothing has come of the allegations.

The president also drew ire for his comments because he has yet to publicly speak about the allegations against Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore, who has been accused by multiple women for harassing them when they were minors. While Mitch McConnell and multiple other senators have spoken out against Moore, Trump has remained silent on the subject.

“The president believes that these allegations are very troubling and should be taken seriously, and he thinks that the people of Alabama should make the decision on who their next senator should be,” said White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Thursday. And when asked on Friday how the allegations against Franken are different from those against Trump, she responded with, “Senator Franken has admitted wrongdoing and the president hasn’t.”

Hundreds of Twitter users showed their disdain for Trump’s recent tweets about Franken and called him out for it. Trump has more than a dozen, on-the-record, allegations of sexual assault against him, and was caught on tape bragging about committing sexual assault. This is a dangerous game for him to play,” said writer Ezra Klein. “Trump on Franken: Pot discusses sins of the kettle,” wrote author Stephen King.

Others had similar thoughts, and many asked for his thoughts on Moore. “Trump comments on the Al Franken allegations the same day they are published. It’s been over a week since the Roy Moore news broke, but nothing on that front,” said CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins.