Al Franken – The NY Independent

Al Franken Felled by Right-Wing Hit Job, Bot Army, Study Says; IM Story Confirmed

Keith GirardFebruary 19, 2018

Al Franken was the victim of a right-wing hit job that led to his resignation following sexual harassment accusations, according to an exhaustive investigation, confirming an IM report that raised red flags about his accuser Leann Tweeden. Tweeden, a former Playboy model charged that Franken sexually harassed her during a 2006 USO tour of Iraq....

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Kids Have Darnedest Things on Their Santa Wish Lists on SNL (Watch!)

Keith GirardDecember 10, 2017

Santa Claus is making a list and checking it twice, but leave it up to the kids to clue him in on who’s been naughty and nice in a hilarious “Saturday Night Live” cold open. All of the year’s woes come back to revisit this shopping mall Santa, played by Kenan Thompson. Who knew what can spring out of the mouths of babes? Kate McKinnon plays elf Sugarplum, but in this climate just call her Amy. ...

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Matt the Monster? Today Host a Jekyll & Hyde Sexual Predator (video)

Keith GirardNovember 30, 2017

Matt Lauer was both praised and reviled following his ouster from NBC’s “Today” show, painting a Jekyll & Hyde portrait of the news host, who could be warm and endearing to some women, and prey on others for sex against their will. No one appeared to be more stunned by the scandal than his co-host, Savannah Guthrie....

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Last Refuge of Scoundrels: Trump Hits NBC Despite His Own Misconduct

Keith GirardNovember 29, 2017

Politics really is the last refuge of scoundrels. In the height of hypocrisy, President Trump lambasted NBC and “Today” show host Matt Lauer, despite facing serious allegations of sexual misconduct himself. During the 2016 presidential campaign, more than a dozen women accused Trump of sexual harassment or sexual assault....

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Leeann Tweeden Tipped Conservative Media Machine Prior to Franken Claims

Keith GirardNovember 21, 2017

Leeann Tweeden claims she called out Sen. Al Franken for sexual harassment as an act of conscience to help other women, but she also took steps to get maximum publicity by tipping off conservative media in an orchestrated campaign before going public. The revelation was made, perhaps inadvertently, by Doug McIntyre, a conservative columnist for The Los Angeles Daily News....

POLITICS1 Comment

Leeann Tweeden Busted For Lying on Howard Stern and It Was a Big One

Keith GirardNovember 20, 2017

Leeann Tweeden, the former Playboy model, Hooter’s girl and hard-Right talking head who has accused Sen. Al Franken of sexual harassment, was caught lying during an interview on the Howard Stern’s radio show and it was a big one. Tweeden appeared on the show to promote her semi-nude 2007 photo spread in lad magazine FHM, a year after her USO Tour with Franken in Iraq....

CELEBRITIESPOLITICS17 Comments

Al Franken Accuser Leeann Tweeden’s Claims Shredded by Internet Sleuths

Keith GirardNovember 19, 2017

Al Franken accuser Leeann Tweeden is facing a storm of suspicion on social media. Internet sleuths are shredding her claims about her interactions with Franken on a 2006 USO Tour in Iraq, including claims a “boob grab” photo has been digitally altered. The gag photo, which shows Franken reaching for Tweeden’s breasts, while she sleeps in a flak vest on an Air Force jet, is the most damning evidence of Tweeden’s claims....

POLITICS35 Comments

Roy Moore, Donald Trump Accusers May Testify in Al Franken Ethics Probe

Keith GirardNovember 17, 2017

Al Franken’s Senate Ethics Committee investigation into allegations he sexually harassed a former Playboy model on a 2006 USO Tour, could open the door for Roy Moore and Donald Trump accusers to testify under oath about sexual misconduct allegations. Former Playboy model and Hooter’s hostess Leeann Tweeden explosively accused Sen. Franken of groping her and forcefully kissing her during the tour....

POLITICS1 Comment

Al Franken’s Military ‘Escort’ on USO Tour Disputes Leeann Tweeden Claims

Keith GirardNovember 17, 2017

A military officer claiming to be Al Franken’s escort during his 2006 USO tour with Leeann Tweeden is disputing the former Playboy model and Hannity protege’s sexual harassment claims by the then-comedian. Tweeden made her allegations Thursday (Nov. 16) at a news conference, claiming Franken “forcefully” kissed her and stuck his tongue in her mouth....

CELEBRITIESPOLITICS42 Comments

Stephen Colbert Tackles Politics of Sexual Misconduct on Capitol Hill (See!)

Keith GirardNovember 17, 2017

Stephen Colbert provided some equal-opportunity insights into sexual harassment allegations against Minnesota Sen. Al Franken and child molestation charges against Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore. But beware false equivalency. Franken was put on the spot after he was accused by Leeann Tweeden, a former Hooter girl, Playboy model and protege of hard-right commentator Sean Hannity....

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Franken Foil Leeann Tweeden a Hard-Right Hannity Protégé, Hooter’s Girl

Keith GirardNovember 16, 2017

Leeann Tweeden, who explosively accused Sen. Al Franken of groping her during a 2006 USO trip, once worked as a scantily clad Hooter’s restaurant waitress, posed for Playboy twice–including nude– and was a talking head on two Sean Hannity Fox News shows. While Tweeden’s background doesn’t excuse Franken’s behavior, it does provide some context to her charges, which may exaggerated and politically motivated....

CELEBRITIESPOLITICS25 Comments