Al Franken Says He's 'Ashamed,' Will Return To Work Monday

U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) says he is embarrassed and ashamed after at least four women have accused him of inappropriate touching and at least one of those women also accused him of forcible kissing. Franken said he will return to work at the Senate on Monday.

In an interview with the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Franken said he has let a lot of people down and is hoping he can make it up to them gradually and regain their trust.

Leeann Tweeden, 32, who was the first woman to come forward, accused Franken of kissing and groping her without her consent while on a USO tour in 2006. Lindsay Menz, 33, told CNN that Franken touched her buttocks during a photo-op at the Minnesota State Fair in 2010. After that, two more women who spoke anonymously to HuffPost accused the Senator of inappropriate touching at different political events and one of them alleged Franken made the advance during a photo-op.

In his latest statement issued on Friday, before he spoke to the Star Tribune, Franken said he feels terribly that he made some women feel badly.

"I've met tens of thousands of people and taken thousands of photographs, often in crowded and chaotic situations," he said in the statement. "I'm a warm person; I hug people. I've learned from recent stories that in some of those encounters, I crossed a line for some women — and I know that any number is too many. Some women have found my greetings or embraces for a hug or photo inappropriate, and I respect their feelings about that.

"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. And let me say again to Minnesotans that I'm sorry for putting them through this and I'm committed to regaining their trust."

Asked about the photo-ops where Franken has been accused of inappropriate touching, he told the Star Tribune he does not remember any photo-ops that ended with him putting his hand on women's backsides.

“I don’t remember these photographs, I don’t,” he told the Star Tribune. “This is not something I would intentionally do.”

When asked whether he expected any more women to come forward to accuse him of groping, Franken said "I certainly hope not."

Also See: Mixed Views In Minnesota On Senator Al Franken

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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