'Ashamed' Franken says he won't quit Senate over groping accusations
Al Franken
(Reuters) -  U.S. Senator Al Franken   trying to salvage  his  political career  said on Sunday  he  does not plan to resign but called  himself  âembarrassed and ashamedâ by  his  behavior toward women who have accused  him  of groping or inappropriately touching them.
FILE PHOTO:  Senator Al Franken (D-MN)  meets with constituents at Minnesota Farmfest in Redwood County  Minnesota  U.S. August 6  2014. REUTERS/Craig Lassig/File Photo
 Franken   a Democrat and former comedian who has represented Minnesota in the Senate since 2009  said in a round of media interviews -- his first since the allegations surfaced on Nov. 16 -- that he looked forward to returning to his job on Monday.
âIâm embarrassed and ashamed. Iâve let a lot of people down and Iâm hoping I can make it up to them and gradually regain their trust â  Franken  told the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
 Franken  resisted comparisons between  his  behavior and that of Roy Moore  the Republican nominee for a U.S. Senate seat from Alabama who has been accused of improper conduct involving teenage girls decades ago.
âIâm going to take responsibility. Iâm going to be held accountable through the ethics committee â said  Franken   whose behavior is being investigated by the Senate ethics panel. âAnd Iâm going to hopefully be a voice in this that is helpful. ... Again  I respect women. What kills me about this is it gives people a reason to believe I donât respect women.â
When asked if he had considered resigning   Franken  said: âNo  no. The ethics committee is looking into this and I will cooperate fully with it.â
Pressed about stepping aside and allowing a woman to take his seat   Franken  told Minnesota Public Radio  âIâm committed to working as hard as I can here in the Senate for the people of Minnesota.â
 Franken  was first accused of sexual misconduct by radio broadcaster Leann Tweeden.  She  said  Franken  had forcibly kissed  her  during a 2006 USO war zone tour  and a photo showed him with his hands over  her  chest while  she  was sleeping.
Four days later  a woman named Lindsay Menz told CNN that  Franken  had touched  her  buttocks while the two were being photographed in 2010 at the Minnesota State Fair.
 Franken  has apologized to Tweeden  and has said  he  does not remember the incident with Menz. Last week  two other women told the Huffington Post Franken had touched their buttocks in separate incidents. The article did not provide the names of those two accusers.
âI donât remember these photographs  I donât â  Franken  told the Star Tribune. âThis is not something I would intentionally do.â
âI have been reflecting on this â  Franken  told Minnesota Public Radio of the allegations. âI want to be a better man.â
 Franken  is among a long list of celebrities and politicians who have been accused of sexual misconduct. The recent wave of accusations  some of them dating back for decades  began in October.
(Reuters) -   [TGT] trying to salvage   [TGT]   political career  said on Sunday   [TGT]   does not plan to resign but called   [TGT]   âembarrassed and ashamedâ by   [TGT]   behavior toward women who have accused   [TGT]   of groping or inappropriately touching them.
FILE PHOTO:   [TGT] meets with constituents at Minnesota Farmfest in Redwood County  Minnesota  U.S. August 6  2014. REUTERS/Craig Lassig/File Photo
 Franken   a Democrat and former comedian who has represented Minnesota in the Senate since 2009  said in a round of media interviews -- his first since the allegations surfaced on Nov. 16 -- that he looked forward to returning to his job on Monday.
âIâm embarrassed and ashamed. Iâve let a lot of people down and Iâm hoping I can make it up to them and gradually regain their trust â   [TGT] told the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
  [TGT] resisted comparisons between   [TGT]   behavior and that of Roy Moore  the Republican nominee for a U.S. Senate seat from Alabama who has been accused of improper conduct involving teenage girls decades ago.
âIâm going to take responsibility. Iâm going to be held accountable through the ethics committee â said  Franken   whose behavior is being investigated by the Senate ethics panel. âAnd Iâm going to hopefully be a voice in this that is helpful. ... Again  I respect women. What kills me about this is it gives people a reason to believe I donât respect women.â
When asked if he had considered resigning    [TGT] said: âNo  no. The ethics committee is looking into this and I will cooperate fully with it.â
Pressed about stepping aside and allowing a woman to take his seat   Franken  told Minnesota Public Radio  âIâm committed to working as hard as I can here in the Senate for the people of Minnesota.â
 Franken  was first accused of sexual misconduct by radio broadcaster Leann Tweeden.  She  said  Franken  had forcibly kissed  her  during a 2006 USO war zone tour  and a photo showed him with his hands over  her  chest while  she  was sleeping.
Four days later  a woman named Lindsay Menz told CNN that  Franken  had touched  her  buttocks while the two were being photographed in 2010 at the Minnesota State Fair.
 Franken  has apologized to Tweeden  and has said  he  does not remember the incident with Menz. Last week  two other women told the Huffington Post Franken had touched their buttocks in separate incidents. The article did not provide the names of those two accusers.
âI donât remember these photographs  I donât â  Franken  told the Star Tribune. âThis is not something I would intentionally do.â
âI have been reflecting on this â  Franken  told Minnesota Public Radio of the allegations. âI want to be a better man.â
 Franken  is among a long list of celebrities and politicians who have been accused of sexual misconduct. The recent wave of accusations  some of them dating back for decades  began in October.