Franken Cancels Fundraiser Appearance For Sen. Bill Nelson

TAMPA, FL - Sen. Al Franken, who faces allegations of kissing and groping a woman without her consent, has canceled his appearance at a fundraiser for fellow Democrat Sen. Bill Nelson. Franken was scheduled to appear at the Saturday event held at the Thonotosassa home of former gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink.

Los Angeles radio anchor Leeann Tweeden accused Franken of forcibly kissing her during a 2006 USO tour. She also revealed a photo of Franken posing with his hands on her breasts as she slept on a plane returning from the tour.

Franken, now a Minnesota Democrat, was a professional comedian at the time, and he and Tweeden were scheduled to do a skit together in which they were supposed to kiss, she writes. She says she wasn't planning on kissing him and would turn her head away at the last moment. But before they were to go on stage, Franken insisted on a practicing the kiss, according to Tweeden's account. She wrote that she allowed the practice kiss, but didn't agree to what ended up happening during the surprise rehearsal.

Franken released a statement: "I certainly don't remember the rehearsal for the skit in the same way, but I send my sincerest apologies to Leeann. As to the photo, it was clearly intended to be funny but wasn't. I shouldn't have done it."

Franken added: “I am asking that an ethics investigation be undertaken, and I will gladly cooperate.”

Also See: Senator Franken Accepts Ethics Probe After Accusation

Image via AP Photo/Alan Diaz