Nevada Senators React To Al Franken, Roy Moore Allegations

Allegations that Alabama Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore sexually assaulted an underage woman and made overtures toward three others in the 1970s have become well known since The Washington Post reported the women's accounts last week. On Wednesday, two more women came forward saying that Moore made advances toward them during the same time period. The reports have caused Democratic and Republican senators from across the country to call on Moore to drop out of the special race for the Senate seat vacated by United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

On Thursday, the Democratic Party showed it was not immune to sexual misconduct controversy. Sports personality Leeann Tweeden came forward with allegations that Minnesota Democratic Senator Al Franken groped and kissed her in 2006. Tweeden wrote in a post to Los Angeles radio station 790 KABC that during a USO Tour, Franken — who then was a comedian on the tour—aggressively kissed her using his tongue while they rehearsed a comedy routine. She ignored Franken's initial request to rehearse the kiss, Tweeden wrote, but eventually went along with it. When he stuck his tongue into her mouth, she pushed him away.

Both of Nevada's senators have spoken out against the allegations brought against Moore and Franken.

Senator Dean Heller (R)

Heller is readying for what will be one of the most contentious senate races in the country this election cycle. He spoke to Las Vegas Review-Journal columnist Victor Joecks about Moore and Franken.

On Moore

"I believe the women who have come forward. Roy Moore should do what is best for the conservatives of Alabama and step aside," he told Joecks.

On Franken

"I think it is very important that these indefensible behaviors are now being brought into the full light of day and that those who are guilty of sexual misconduct suffer the appropriate fate of legal liability, loss of employment or being removed from elected office. That includes Senator Franken," Heller said in part of his statement to Joecks.

Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D)

Masto was also critical of Moore and Franken. She called on Moore to drop out of Alabama's senate race and tweeted Thursday that she supports an investigation into the allegations against Franken.

On Moore

Cortez Masto's communications director, Ryan King, said in a statement that "Senator Cortez Masto is disgusted by the reports out of Alabama on Roy Moore's alleged history of sexual assault. He should do the right thing and step aside."

On Franken

"This is deeply disappointing and this type of behavior is unacceptable. I support the Ethics Committee process and investigation into this inappropriate conduct. I expect to hear more from Sen. Franken," Cortez Masto wrote on Twitter.

Immediate Fallout

In October, Franken spoke out against Hollywood filmmaker Harvey Weinstein, who has been accused of sexual assault by scores of women dating as far back the 1970s. Franken said he would be donating campaign contributions to women's charities after the Weinstein reports surfaced.

In a lengthy Oct. 10 Facebook post, Franken referenced the Weinstein allegations as well as former Fox & Friends host Gretchen Carlson's lawsuit against Fox News. Franken called on Congress to pass legislation for added protection of employees who have been harassed at work. He wrote in the post:

We must do something to address this all-too-common problem. And one thing we can do—which Gretchen has become a bold advocate for—is reforming arbitration laws, which prevent people who experience workplace harassment from going to court. Instead, they are forced into arbitration, a process that heavily favors the employer, often denying them justice after they’ve been harassed at work. That’s why I’ve been working to pass the Arbitration Fairness Act—so that people in the workplace wouldn’t have to sign away their rights to have their day in court when they take a job.

After Tweeden's announcement on Thursday, the National Republican Congressional Committee demanded Democrats do the same for contributions received from Franken. The NRCC singled out Rep. Ruben Kihuen of Nevada's 4th Congressional District among a group of Democrats who have accepted contributions from Franken. Franken's political action committee, Midwest Values PAC, contributed $1,500 to Kihuen's reelection campaign in September, FEC records show.

Rep. Jacky Rosen of Nevada's 3rd congressional district also received campaign contributions from Midwest Values. Rosen is running for Heller's senate seat in 2018; her campaign received a $5,000 contribution from Franken's PAC in September. Rosen told The Nevada Independent that she would be donating the $5,000 contribution to a Las Vegas charity.

Photo via Isaac Brekken/Associated Press