Journalist Says Franken Groped Her At A Party In 2009

[Jose Garcia]

Source: Talking Points Memo

Tina Dupuy, a journalist and former Democratic congressional staffer, on Wednesday alleged that Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) groped her at a party in 2009.

“It happened at a Media Matters party during the first Obama inauguration,” Dupuy wrote in the Atlantic, referring to an event in February 2009, after Franken was elected to office in a close race.

Dupuy said she “saw Al Franken” and asked to take a picture with him because her foster mother was a fan.

“We posed for the shot. He immediately put his hand on my waist, grabbing a handful of flesh. I froze. Then he squeezed. At least twice,” Dupuy said.

Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/journalist-says-franken-groped-her-at-2009-party

[cilla4progress]

1. Groping?

More like "handsy," I'd say.

[JustAnotherGen]

2. Um

Lee Greenwood, Doug Stone, and a host of other country singers from the early 90's did the exact same thing to me.

[samnsara]

3. this is it?

[Qutzupalotl]

4. So, he hugged her.

What am I missing?

[brush]

19. Right. What is her agenda? Hugging around the waist for a photo is not groping and she knows it.

What is she trying to prove here, and did someone put her up to it?

[Kimchijeon]

20. exactly, this is not groping, this is complete horseshit.

[Alice11111]

5. Oh geez, put his hand on her waist for a photo!#! I have

Represented Victims in sex harassment cases for almost 30 years.
This is a RW set up!

Stop it! Give the guy an investigation. Lynch mob!
Where is common sense??

[Kimchijeon]

22. I agree, lets do the investigation that HE SUGGESTED!

[fountainofyouth]

6. Enough is enough

I'm really disappointed in DU throughout this. We all love Franken, but we're making the same excuses the other side does. These accusers are credible and do not deserve our scorn.

[WoonTars]

21. Bullshit. He grabbed her waist FFS...

Just stop it...

[Alice11111]

28. You can't be serious. It was a photo.

[WoonTars]

37. He put his hand on her WAIST.....THAT IS NOW CONSIDERED GROPING?

You can't be serious...

[Kimchijeon]

25. Yeah, no touching or human contact allowed anymore, that's now groping don'tcha know

Better get a consent form filed before you shake hands!

Gimme a break!

[Alice11111]

30. Only for effective Dems though. Repubs just ask their

Mammas before molesting them.

We have gone off the rails.

[idahoblue]

44. Using the standard railroading Franken

Every person who has ever had a social or career interaction has been groped. I could file a million lawsuits using the accusations leveled against Sen. Franken.
OMG, I have been hugged, had a hand on my waist during photos, had my breasts and butt brushed in passing. Not one of those can be interpreted as sexual assault. Using the low bar being set by the Democrats, there is no one qualified to run for office. We will be left with antisocial basement dwellers who have never had a human interaction.

Get real! This is bullshit, Dems are falling on their sword while republicans grab machetes and circle the wagons.

We are the party of whiners and snowflakes.

[FuzzyRabbit]

7. Is all touching groping?

I thought "groping" referred to manhandling intimate parts.

[Bengus81]

23. Only till Republicans (using DEMS) get rid of Franken.....

Then touching a woman's waist for a pic will be okey dokey again.............

Look like she's screaming GROPING in this pic?? She is NOW.

[Alice11111]

26. Hell no. That is not sex harassment. I have represented

Many victims as a lawyer in these cases.

He touched/ grabbed her waist for a photo. BFD!

We are at the point that most Dems believe anything the Rups trick us into believing.

STAND UP! He deserves an investigation.

[still_one]

8. Tina Dupuy is the former communications director for Congressman Alan Grayson

Here is background information if it is the same person:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tina_Dupuy

[7962]

15. Yes, its the same person. nt

[rgbecker]

41. That's enough for me. Franken should continue looking for an ethics investigation.

[still_one]

42. I won't discard what she said happened, but I also do NOT want Al to even consider resigning until

Last edited Thu Dec 7, 2017, 12:11 PM - Edit history (1)

an ethics investigation is done

[LoveMyCali]

45. What happened?

Have you ever taken a picture with another person? Don't you usually move in close and yes (the horror of it all) either put your arm around their waist or shoulders? In what way is this groping? It's getting ridiculous!

[still_one]

46. I won't even hug my dog anymore

[LoveMyCali]

47. Idid read somewhere

That dogs actually hate to be hugged.

[still_one]

48. That could be. I lost my dog in 2013, so my comment was purely meant as satirical

[LoveMyCali]

49. I was joking too

I always hug dogs, I figure they didn't read the article.

[Turbineguy]

9. If we can get rid of Franken

we can get rid of Mueller.

Obviously we need to get rid of anybody who Trump may perceive as a threat.

As Democrats we need to help the GOP with this.

Oh, and vote for Roy Moore.

[Alice11111]

33. Might as well, as we are to the point, we are taking

Out Dems for the RW. I can't stand it!

[Polly Hennessey]

10. Oh, no,

he squeezed her waist. I once took a photo with Senator Harry Reid —- he hugged me and squeezed my waist. Did not feel violated at all. Good grief.

[bluestarone]

11. man this sooooo fucking strange

I certainly DO NOT call that groping. what is her agenda?

[TCJ70]

12. How far is the definition of the word "grope" going to be expanded?

This is ridiculous.

[hopeforchange2008]

13. This is absurd.

[flamingdem]

16. They're playing us for IDIOTS

[Kimchijeon]

29. welp it's workin'

[Alice11111]

34. and we are RUSHING right into the trap.

[FuzzyRabbit]

40. ACORN, Shirley Sherrod, and now Al Franken

If the Republicans accuse a Democrat of wrongdoing, it seems the Democratic leadership will immediately cave and get rid of the accused. Even if there is no evidence of any wrongdoing. Even if the accusation is totally false.

It has happened before, and it will soon happen again. And then again and again and again until we Democrats start fighting back.

[SeaDoo77]

17. Circular Firing Squad Dems

Beyond stupid.

[Alice11111]

36. + millions

I can't take it anymore.
Great analogy.

[Bengus81]

18. What does Steve Harvey do DAILY on Family Feud?

Arm around women's waist,shoulder. Wonder why no outrage there? Why does he still have a show??

[dhill926]

24. yep, this is clearly worse than Moore or Trump....

or any other goddamn repub. Right? jesus fucking christ....madness...

[The_Casual_Observer]

27. Too bad she didn't visit with trump, he would have shown her what a real grope is.

[blimablam]

31. Grabbed her around the waist and squeezed. That's a hug

Or am I missing something?

[LisaL]

39. Apparently that now counts a groping.

So other politicians who hugged somebody for a photo op better get in line.

[DeminPennswoods]

32. This is so ridiculous

He put his arm around her waist? She thinks that's groping? Does she know there are ways of signaling you want your picture taken, but not touched? You just leave space and put fold your hands in front of you or behind your back. The other person will, believe it or not, usually respond in kind.

[handmade34]

35. seriously?

wow... not sexual assault in my book... if this is the undoing of Al Franken, then we are a sorry lot

[Rollo]

38. I wonder how much of this piling onto Franken is channelling of the old Nazi stereotype...

... of older Jewish men lusting after pure Aryan girls, intent on despoiling the master race....?

Meanwhile supposedly Christian white conservatives like Trump and Moore get away with much worse than Franken has been accused of...

It sucks, bigly.

[truthisfreedom]

43. Sigh. Why?