Schneider Donates $5,000 From Al Franken To Local Charities

DEERFIELD, IL — Within a few hours of published reports Thursday that Senator Al Franken (D-Minnesota) had groped a woman without her consent while on an overseas trip, Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Deerfield) gave away $5,000 in contributions his campaign had received from Franken's political action committee to nonprofit organizations that help survivors of sexual abuse and domestic violence across the 10th District.

Leann Tweeden, a news anchor with KABC in Los Angeles, wrote an account of Franken groping her and forcefully kissing her without her consent. She later discovered a photo of Franken with his hands on her breasts as she slept aboard a cargo plan leaving Afghanistan, which she posted on the station's website Thursday along with a copy of the image.

Franken acknowledged the incident and apologized, although he said his memory of events differed from Tweeden's. He called for an ethics investigation into his conduct to be opened and said he would "gladly cooperate."

Schneider's congressional campaign committee accepted a $5,000 contribution from Franken's Midwest Values PAC on Sept. 25. He said he supports a Senate probe into Franken's behavior.

"The news of the past few weeks is a sad illustration of the depth and severity of the sexual harassment, misconduct, and assault faced by too many Americans every day. Harassment of any kind is unacceptable — any time, anywhere, and in any context," Schneider said.

"Sen. Franken's behavior was unacceptable," the congressman said. "We must be clear these actions will not be tolerated, regardless of who the perpetrator is, which is why I fully support a Senate Ethics Committee investigation."

One of the Republicans running to challenge Schneider in next year's election, Jeremy Wynes, issued a press release Thursday afternoon calling on Schneider to return the money, describing Franken's actions as "the opposite of our Midwestern values."

By that point, Schneider had already given the money away, according to a spokesperson for his campaign.

Read more: Al Franken Kissed, Groped News Anchor on USO Tour

"While Senator Franken’s campaign contributed $5,000 to my 2016 race, I wanted to make a clear statement of my position by making an equal donation from my 2018 campaign distributed to five outstanding local charities working to protect and defend the rights of women," Schneider said.

He called each of the following organizations Thursday morning to inform them he'd be providing each with a $1,000 donation, according to a campaign spokesperson.

1. A Safe Place, Zion
2. YWCA of Lake County, Gurnee
3. Lake County Haven, Libertyville
4. Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center, Gurnee
5. Shalva, Chicago-Highland Park

Watch: Radio Host Leeann Tweeden Accepts Franken's Apology

Read more: Al Franken Groping Scandal: Accuser Accepts Senator's Apology

I’ve decided it’s time to tell my story. #MeToohttps://t.co/TqTgfvzkZg
— Leeann Tweeden (@LeeannTweeden) November 16, 2017

JUST IN: Sen. Al Franken apologizes after allegations of sexual misconduct: "I am asking that an ethics investigation be undertaken, and I will gladly cooperate" pic.twitter.com/s0plvylZCk
— NBC News (@NBCNews) November 16, 2017

_{Top photo: Rep. Brad Schneider, Sen. Al Franken | Official portraits}