Indiana Senate candidates trade jabs over sexual harassment claims against others

WASHINGTON — Sen. Joe Donnelly moved quickly on Thursday to condemn the allegations of sexual misconduct against a Democratic colleague, while his Republican opponents urged him to do more to dissociate himself from Minnesota Sen. Al Franken.

Indiana Democrats countered that GOP Reps. Todd Rokita and Luke Messer must follow Republicans’ “new-found” zero tolerance policy and pledge not to accept campaign help from President Trump.

“Our nation must move to a point where no one running for office relies on harassers and assaulters for support — no matter their political party, and no matter if they’re in the statehouse or the White House,” said Indiana Democratic Party spokesman Will Baskin-Gerwitz.

The political back-and-forth is another fallout from the national debate over sexual assault that started with last year’s presidential campaign and intensified recently with the growing number of people who have accused Hollywood power players, newsroom leaders and national politicians of sexual harassment and assaults.

TV host and sportscaster Leeann Tweeden said Thursday that Franken “forcibly kissed” and groped her during a USO tour in 2006, two years before he was elected to the Senate.

Franken apologized Thursday and promised to cooperate with any investigation.

Senate Majority Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., both called on the Senate Ethics Committee to review the allegations.

Donnelly agreed that was the right step.

"What Senator Franken did is wrong and regardless of political party, sexual harassment and sexual abuse are unacceptable,” he said in a statement.

Donnelly’s campaign also donated to Indiana food banks the $10,000 Franken’s political action committee contributed to Donnelly’s re-election campaign.

Messer tweeted Thursday that Donnellly should also call on Franken to resign.

Previously, Messer also called on Senate candidate Roy Moore, the Republican running in Alabama’s special election, to get out of the race. Multiple women have accused Moore of pursuing relationships with them as teenagers or inappropriate conduct while he was an assistant district attorney in Gadsden from 1977 to 1982.

“Sexual assault is sexual assault, regardless of party,” Messer tweeted. “Both Roy Moore and Al Franken should step down.”

Rokita, who has not said whether he believes the accusations against Moore, criticized Donnelly Thursday for asking his supporters to donate to Moore’s opponent.

“Sexual assault is never ok,” Rokita tweeted. “And while Joe Donnelly's campaign is quick to exploit sexual assault allegations for political gain, Donnelly is the one who has taken money from Al Franken and has praised Bill Clinton.”

Clinton had an affair with an intern while in office. He has also been accused of sexual assault and harassment, which he has denied.

Trump has denied allegations from various women who have accused him of sexual misconduct.

Rokita's campaign declined to comment Thursday on whether he believes the allegations against Trump.

Asked the same question, Messer campaign manager Chasen Bullock said: "Luke has been very candid and blunt about these incidents no matter what party has been involved."

When the 2005 Access Hollywood recording of Trump boasting about groping women became public in last year’s presidential campaign, Messer said Trump’s “words were wrong.” But he continued to support Trump’s campaign.

Rokita said at the time: “Nothing has changed about my support for Donald Trump and Mike Pence.”

Contact Maureen Groppe at mgroppe@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter: @mgroppe.