The waning months of 2017 have seen a rash of sexual harassment allegations surfacing, and U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) is one of the more recent notable people to have these allegations brought against them.
Despite female cast members of the television show “Saturday Night Live” claiming in a letter that they have never experienced inappropriate behavior from the senator and former writer/ author, the allegations have already done damage to Franken’s political career.
Many Democrats who have received money from Franken’s PAC, Midwest Values, have donated the money to charity, the Illinois Republican Party said in a Nov. 20 release.
But Illinois' two U.S. senators, Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, both Democrats, who have received money from Franken’s PAC, have yet to donate the money or make announcements to do so, the GOP release said.
Politicians who have donated the money received from Midwest Values include U.S. Sens. Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Jon Tester (D-MT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Iowa state Rep. Abby Finkenauer (D-Dubuque), the release said.
McCaskill, who has received $30,000 in donations from Franken since 2006, has given that money to Missouri Food banks.
Tester donated his $25,000 of Franken money to a Montana organization against sexual violence and harassment.
Brown’s campaign has vowed to donate the $28,100 received from Franken to various charities.
Baldwin, who received $20,000 from Franken, is donating it to a group for women veterans in Wisconsin.
Finkenauer, who is running Congress, has vowed to return the $1,500 she received from the Franken PAC.
Durbin and Duckworth received $21,000 and $5,000, respectively, from the Franken PAC, the GOP release said.
"Both should put their money where their mouth is and either return or donate all campaign cash received from Franken. Actions speak louder than words," the release said.
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