Al Franken's pattern? Supportive of women

(Reader Supported News) -- [AUTHOR’S NOTE: Game changer? Early on November 20, after this story was written, CNN reported that Lindsay Menz, 33, of Frisco, Texas, reached out to CNN to accuse Senator Al Franken of an incident in 2010 at the Minnesota State Fair, when her family lived in Minnesota. She was posing with the senator while her husband, Jeremy Menz, took their picture. Lindsay Menz told CNN: “… [he] pulled me in really close, like awkward close, and as my husband took the picture, he put his hand full-fledged on my rear…. It was wrapped tightly around my butt cheek.” Jeremy Menz did not see the grope, which is not illegal under Minnesota law, but Lindsay Menz reported the incident to family and friends at the time, and responded to a friend on Facebook: “Dude -- Al Franken TOTALLY molested me! Creeper!” Lindsay Menz said she voted for Trump in 2016 but also voted for Democratic senator Amy Klobuchar in the past, and believes she voted for Franken. Lindsay Menz said that reading about Leeann Tweeden prompted her to come forward with her own story, which she didn’t want to do on her own. Franken issued a non-denial denial, saying he didn’t remember the photo moment, which was one of thousands he’s done. This is the first accusation involving Franken’s behavior in the Senate, making any Senate Ethics Committee investigation more critical. For now, the Reagan principle applies: “Trust, but verify.” In time the principle of proportionality will be tested (unless further revelations change the game further). This is Day Five of the Franken story, which provides an unexpected lens through which to view the piece below, written at the end of Day Four.]

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