Two more women say Franken touched them inappropriately, HuffPost reports

Greg Toppo | USA TODAY

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Two more women have come forward with allegations that Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., touched them inappropriately, bringing to four the total number of women saying he made inappropriate sexual advances.

The two women, both of whom spoke anonymously to HuffPost, said Franken touched their buttocks during political events in Minnesota in 2007 and 2008.

Last week, radio host Leeann Tweeden said Franken in 2006 "forcibly kissed" her and later pretended to grope her breasts for a photo while she was sleeping. The incident took place while the pair were on a USO tour in the Middle East to entertain U.S. troops.

Tweeden's accusation made Franken the first senator to be publicly accused of sexual assault or harassment in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein harassment scandal.

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On Monday, Lindsay Menz, a 33-year-old from Texas, said the senator pulled her in close and grabbed her buttocks while the two were posing for a picture at the Minnesota State Fair in 2010.

On Wednesday, HuffPost reported that one of the women said Franken groped her while they posed for a photo after a 2007 event in Minneapolis hosted by the Minnesota Women’s Political Caucus.

The second woman who spoke to HuffPost said Franken cupped her butt with his hand at a 2008 Democratic fundraiser in Minneapolis, then suggested the two visit the bathroom together.

“My immediate reaction was disgust,” she said. “But my secondary reaction was disappointment. I was excited to be there and to meet him. And so to have that happen really deflated me. It felt like: ‘Is this really the person who is going to be in a position of power to represent our community?’”

In a statement to HuffPost, Franken said, “It’s difficult to respond to anonymous accusers, and I don’t remember those campaign events.”

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