New accuser says Sen. Al Franken groped her, CNN reports
CINCINNATI — An Army veteran became the fifth woman in two weeks to accuse Minnesota Sen. Al Franken of groping her.
Stephanie Kemplin, 41, of Maineville, Ohio, said the incident happened when she was deployed in Kuwait and Franken — then a comedian — was visiting American troops with the USO in 2003, according to CNN on Thursday.
She said she got in line for a photo with Franken and when he put his arm around her, he groped her right breast.
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Kemplin is the second person to allege that such behavior took place while Franken was on a USO tour.
According to CNN:
Kemplin repeatedly used the word "embarrassed" to describe her immediate reaction at the time.
"I remember clenching up and how you just feel yourself flushed," she said. "And I remember thinking — is he going to move his hand? Was it an accident? Was he going to move his hand? He never moved his hand."
She added: "It was long enough that he should have known if it was an accident. I'm very confident saying that."
Kemplin estimated that the touching lasted anywhere from five to 10 seconds. She said she eventually turned her body to shift Franken's hand off her breast before the picture was taken.
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Nov. 24: Sen. Al Franken apologizes for making some women ‘feel badly’
Nov. 23: Sen. Al Franken says he 'crossed a line' but vows to regain trust of Minnesotans
Nov. 22: Two more women say Franken touched them inappropriately, HuffPost reports
Nov. 21: Arianna Huffington: Al Franken no more groped me than I strangled him
Nov. 21: Former women staffers at SNL release statement in support of Sen. Al Franken
Nov. 20: Arianna Huffington denies 'Post' report about photo shoot with Franken
Nov. 20: Second woman accuses Sen. Franken of sexual misconduct: report
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