From NBC News -
Radio news anchor Leeann Tweeden recalled an incident in 2006, in which she alleges that Sen. Al Franken forcibly kissed and groped her while they were entertaining U.S. troops overseas. Franken has responded to her allegations, saying that he does not recall the story the same way, but apologized to Tweeden.
The week isn't over yet and we have yet another Congressional Sexual harassment episode coming to light.
Suddenly today and without warning, the media seems to be interested in Congressional Sexual Harassment. Why, and what has changed? NBC, CBS, The New York Post, and CNN, to name but a few have all jumped on the bandwagon today.
And just as suddenly as the media has come out of their coma on the issue, Sen. Mitch McConnell has called for an Ethics Committee of the Franken incident. Given the nature of Washington D.C., there have likely been a plethora of smoke-filled backroom meetings going on over the past 24 hours.
Is the sudden change of heart, due to the press coverage versus the testimony under oath before a congressional committee? If so it is very telling on just how things are done inside the beltway.
As I wrote yesterday, Sen. McConnell and Rep. Ryan have failed in their duties as leaders of their respective legislative bodies. They head their respective legislative houses. Those houses are full of substantive structural problems that have been neglected and had a blind eye to them for decades.
Neither of the leaders has been called to account for the escapades and rowdiness of their legislative co-workers. The legislative bodies are quick to call out and condemn similar behavior in the general public, and yet, it is business as usual in the halls of Congress.