Al Franken Grope Charge Prompts NRCC to Call for Brindisi Response

A shocking report out today about Minnesota Senator Al Franken's involvement in the latest scandal surrounding powerful men caught up in inappropriate sexual conduct, has the NRCC calling out Anthony Brindisi. A Los Angeles talk show host claims that Franken groped and kissed her without her permission in 2006 during a USO Tour they were both a part of.  Within hours of the admission, the National Republican Congressional Committee was out with a demand for NY-22 congressional candidate, New York Assemblyman Brindisi, to denounce Franken and return a contribution he made to his campaign.

In an email sent by NRCC Regional Press Secretary Chris Martin, he demanded Brindisi's response.

I’m sure you’ve seen the reports this morning that Al Franken groped and kissed a woman while she was sleeping. The photo speaks for itself.

We’re calling on Anthony Brindisi to immediately denounce Al Franken and return the donation he made to Brindisi's campaign.

Al Franken, through his MidWest Values PAC, donated $1,500 to Brindisi's campaign since his announcement earlier this year, according to OpenSecrets.org.  The Brindisi campaign quickly fired back at the NRCC request.

"Sexual harassment is never a joke. Plain and simple. I am sending my donations from Al Franken to Planned Parenthood of Mohawk Hudson and Family Planning Services in South Central New York.” Assemblymember Anthony Brindisi told WIBX.

In the past, Brindisi's campaign has called on Tenney to return contributions made to her campaign by Carl Paladino who was recently removed from the Buffalo School Board over comments deemed racial, along with billionaire hedge fund manager Dan Loeb who was criticized for making racially charged comments about Senate Democratic Conference Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, D-Yonkers. Brindisi has also asked Tenney to denounce Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore. It's unknown if Congresswoman Tenney has acted on any of those requests.

WIBX reached out to Congresswoman Tenney and is waiting for a response.