136 women leaders who are current and former elected officials, non-profit board members, community leaders and members of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party have released a statement of support for Sen. Al Franken (D-MN).
Here are the statement and the list of signers, as provided to PoliticusUSA
We are longtime supporters of Senator Franken, and our support is rooted in the core values that we share. During his time in the Senate, he has been a champion for these values and a steadfast supporter of women’s rights. While we are disappointed by these allegations, we appreciate that he has apologized and is committed to regaining the trust of Minnesotans. We believe a Senate investigation into these allegations is the appropriate course of action and will continue to support the Senator throughout this process.”
List of signers:
Beverly Anderson
Marcia Avner
Tammy Teske Ausen
Karen Bachman
Amelia Holstein Bailey
Ann Barkelew
Sara Barrow
Alana Bassin
Jackie Bateman
Lauren Beecham
Margit Berg
Pam Berkwitz
Connie Bernardy, Minnesota State Representative
Katherine Blauvelt
Patricia Bloodgood
Lynn Bolnick, Former President, DFL Feminist Caucus
Terri Bonoff, Minnesota State Senator (2005-2016)
Margee Bracken
Aviva Breen
Alondra Cano
Tarryl Clark
Barb Davis
Fran Davis
Rebecca Driscoll
Judi Dutcher, Minnesota State Auditor (1995-2002)
Chris Eaton, Minnesota State Senator
Jeannie Fox Entenza
Carol Flynn, Minnesota State Senator (1990-2001)
Arvonne Fraser
Lisa Goodman, Minneapolis City Council Member
Cathy Gorlin
Joan Growe, Minnesota Secretary of State (1975-1999)
Terry Gydesen
Jocelyn Hale
Carol Hayden
Diane Hayden
Judith Koll Healy
Jessi Held
Betsy Hodges, Mayor of Minneapolis
Linda L. Holstein
Melissa Hortman, Minnesota State House of Representatives DFL Leader
Corinne Horowitz
Ember Reichgott Junge, Minnesota State Senator (1981-2001)
Phyllis Kahn, Minnesota State Representative (1973-2016)
Sylvia Kaplan
Kiki Kelley
Julia Dayton Klein
Erin Koegel, Minnesota State Representative
Suzanne Koepplinger
Mary Kunesh-Podein, Minnesota State Representative
Natalie Volin Lehr
Susan Lenfestey
Tina Liebling, Minnesota State Representative
Florence Littman
Becky Lourey
Peggy Lucas
Ellen Goldberg Luger
Kristen McMullen
Rena Moran, Minnesota State Representative
Sue Moravec, Chair, CD 2 DFL
M. Kathleen Murphy
Kathleen O’Brien, Minneapolis City Council (1982-1989)
Darin Opperman
Diane Sims Page
Sandy Pappas, Minnesota State Senator
Cheryl Poling, Chair, CD3 DFL
Patricia Torres Ray, Minnesota State Senator
Randi Reitan
Ann Rest, Minnesota State Senator
Mary Cathryn Ricker
Sheila Riggs
Jennifer Schultz, Minnesota State Representative
Nancy Schumacher
Linda Slocum, Minnesota State Representative
Nancy Speer
Cheryl Thomas
Missy Staples Thompson
Susan Thompson
Ruth Usem
Mary Vogel
Maureen Kucera-Walsh
JoAnn Ward, Minnesota State Representative
Jean M. West
Penny Winton
The Senate Ethics Committee investigation needs to play out before any decision should be made about the political future of Al Franken. If the investigation reveals a pattern of sexual harassment, Sen. Franken will either be faced with the choice of stepping down or losing his reelection campaign. Since Franken has never denied any of the allegations against him and has taken responsibility for his behavior, his future may hinge on if there are more accusers out there.
Sen. Franken has more support than every other high profile person who has been accused of sexual harassment this year, but his career may rest in the hands of the Senate Ethics Committee.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
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