Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky) said the Ethics Committee should review allegations made Thursday that Sen. Al Franken (D., Minn.) sexually assaulted and groped a woman in 2006.
"As with all credible allegations of sexual harassment or assault, I believe the Ethics Committee should review the matter," McConnell said in a statement, according to the Hill. "I hope the Democratic Leader will join me on this. Regardless of party, harassment and assault are completely unacceptable—in the workplace or anywhere else."
Franken offered his "sincerest apologies" to Leeann Tweeden on Thursday after she wrote that Franken kissed her without consent while rehearsing for a USO tour in the Middle East in 2006; Franken was a comedian before entering politics.
Tweeden, who now works as a radio show news anchor in Los Angeles, also published a photograph of Franken grabbing her breasts while she slept on the plane ride home.
"We did the line leading up to the kiss and then he came at me, put his hand on the back of my head, mashed his lips against mine, and aggressively stuck his tongue in my mouth," she wrote.
Tweeden also said that she later saw the picture of Franken grabbing her breasts and said she was humiliated.
I’ve decided it’s time to tell my story. #MeToohttps://t.co/TqTgfvzkZg
— Leeann Tweeden (@LeeannTweeden) November 16, 2017
Franken said the photo was "intended to be funny" and he should not have done it.
"I certainly don't remember the rehearsal for the skit in the same way, but I send my sincerest apologies to Leann," Franken said in a statement. "As to the photo, it was clearly intended to be funny but wasn't. I shouldn't have done it."