Al Franken accuser reads senator's apology note on The View

Leeann Tweeden, Los Angeles-based radio anchor of KABC, shared an apology note she received from Senator Al Franken on The View after accusing him of groping and kissing her without consent.

"Dear Leeann, I want to apologize to you personally," Tweeden read aloud for the audience. "I don't know what was in my head when I took that picture, but that doesn't matter. There's no excuse and I understand why you could feel violated by that photo. I remember that rehearsal differently, but what's important is that [sic] the impact it had on you and you felt violated by my actions, and for that I apologize. I have tremendous respect for your work for the USO and I am ashamed that my actions ruined that experience for you. I am so sorry. Sincerely, Al Franken."

On Thursday, Tweeden wrote about the alleged incident, which occurred during her ninth USO tour, on the KABC website. She claimed he kissed her during a rehearsal and also shared a photo of Franken smiling to the camera as he grabbed her breasts while she slept.

Tweeden, who has accepted Franken's apology, told the hosts of The View, "I'm not calling for him to step down." She added, "I think he's done some great work, and this is not about donkeys and elephants, this is about right and wrong. This is about when you don't want somebody to put their hands on you, no is no."

Seth Meyers called the claims against Franken "horrifying" in a segment on Late Night. "And she's wearing army gear because it's a USO tour. But honestly, who could blame women if they started wearing military gear whenever they're around men?" he said.

Stephen Colbert, meanwhile, concluded on The Late Show, "I guess there are no good people left, so let's just get it over with: Just tell us whatever you did, Jimmy Carter, Barack Obama, Tom Hanks, Malala."

Watch Tweeden on The View in the video above.