- The new accuser aired her allegations in New York magazine on Monday
- She said the assault occurred when she was working as an aide to Washington Sen. Patty Murray at an event where Al Franken was a guest speaker in 2006
- The woman said she was taking a photo with Franken when he 'put his hand on my a**'
- She didn't tell anyone about the incident for years out of embarrassment and concern for the career repercussions she could face
- Franken resigned as Minnesota senator in 2017 after eight other woman accused him of sexual misconduct, three of them claiming he groped their behinds
- Responding to the new claim, Franken said: 'Two years ago, I would have sworn that I'd never done anything to make anyone feel uncomfortable, but it's clear that I must have been doing something'
- 'As I've said before, I feel terrible that anyone came away from an interaction with me feeling bad,' he added
Former senator Al Franken has been accused of sexual harassment for the ninth time by a woman who claims he groped her buttocks while they posed for photos at event in 2006.
The new accuser told New York magazine the assault took place when she was working as an aide to Sen Patty Murray (D-Washington) at the lawmaker's annual Golden Tennis Shoes Awards event, where Franken, who was exploring a senate run in Minnesota at the time, was a guest speaker.
The woman, identified only as a military veteran and a senior staffer at a major progressive organization, said she was working the photo line at the event.
When it was her turn to take a photo with the politician, she said he 'put his hand on my a**'.
'He's telling the photographer: "Take another one. I think I blinked. Take another one." And I'm just frozen. It's so violating,' she said.
'And then he gives me a little squeeze on my buttock, and I am bright red. I don't say anything at the time, but I felt deeply, deeply uncomfortable.'
The ninth accuser said she burst into tears when she first learned of the allegations against Franken.
She said she considered coming forward at the time, but chose not to. She explained that years after the Franken incident she had reported unwelcome attention from her boss at work and ended up leaving the job because she felt ostracized for speaking up.
Responding to the latest claim, he told New York Magazine: 'Two years ago, I would have sworn that I'd never done anything to make anyone feel uncomfortable, but it's clear that I must have been doing something.
'As I've said before, I feel terrible that anyone came away from an interaction with me feeling bad.'
Franken resigned as Minnesota senator in 2017 after eight other woman accused him of sexual misconduct. The allegations emerged after Leeann Tweeden, a Los Angeles radio anchor, accused him of forcibly kissing her during a 2006 USO tour in Afghanistan. Tweeden produced a photo that showed Franken groping her breasts while she slept on a military plane (above)
Thirteen years after the alleged incident, the new accuser said she wants to become a Cabinet secretary in a future Democratic administration but knows her speaking out against Franken will be a red flag in the vetting process.
She is haunted by 'the idea that I would not get a job and would always wonder: "Was it the article where I was the one who was raising my hand against a powerful man?"'
Franken recently announced that he will be hosting a weekly program on SiriusXM radio called: 'The Al Franken Show'.
'Listeners can expect a mix of guests from my comedian friends like Chris Rock, to my political pals like former Senate majority leader Harry Reid, to policy experts on the issues in play in 2020,' Franken said in a statement on the show.
'When I'm interviewing Harry or former Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, I'll be the funny one. When I interview Rock or Patton Oswalt, I'll be the one who served eight and a half years in the Senate.'
SiriusXM has not commented on whether the latest allegation will impact the launch of Franken's new program.
Responding to the new claim, Franken said: 'Two years ago, I would have sworn that I'd never done anything to make anyone feel uncomfortable, but it's clear that I must have been doing something. As I've said before, I feel terrible that anyone came away from an interaction with me feeling bad. Franken is seen leaving the Capitol with his wife after he resigned in 2017
The allegations against Franken began when Leeann Tweeden, a Los Angeles radio anchor, accused him of forcibly kissing her during a 2006 USO tour in Afghanistan.
Tweeden produced a photo that showed Franken groping her breasts while she slept aboard a military plan on their way back from a USO tour performance.
Other allegations followed, including a woman who says Franken put his hand on her buttocks as they posed for a photo at the Minnesota State Fair in 2010.
Two more women told the Huffington Post that Franken squeezed their rear ends at political events during his first campaign for the Senate in 2008.
A fourth, an Army veteran, alleged Franken cupped her breast during a photo on a USO tour in 2003.
Another accuser, a former Democratic congressional aide, said he tried to forcibly kiss her after a taping of his radio show in 2006.
Franken apologized for his behavior but has also disputed some of the allegations.
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