Article snippet: In Sen. Star Tribune Sunday. "I'm hoping I can make it up to them and gradually regain their trust." Franken, who was elected in 2008, in an interview with Minnesota Public Radio Sunday responded to radio host Leeann Tweeden's claim that he groped her while she was asleep on a military plane on her way home from a USO tour in 2006, when he was still a comedian. "I am ashamed of that photo," Franken told Minnesota Public Radio. "She didn’t have any ability to consent. She had every right to feel violated by that photo. I have apologized to her. I was very grateful that she accepted my apology. That is all I can say. My intent doesn’t matter. What matters is that she felt the way she felt from this photo and for that I am ashamed.” Tweeden also claimed that Franken "forcibly kissed me without my consent" while rehearsing for a skit on the USO tour. Regarding the rehearsal, Franken has said in an earlier statement, "I certainly don't remember the rehearsal for the skit in the same way." After Tweeden shared the photo and the allegations, Franken released a lengthy apology and called for an ethics investigation. Franken, who said he has been a champion of women's rights issues throughout his career in the Senate, also Sunday responded to the other allegations from several women that during photos with them, he allegedly slid his hand down to cup their backsides. Franken told Minnesota Public Radio the allegations took him by surprise, an... Link to the full article to read more