Sen. Al Franken, Angie Craig Denounce Jason Lewis for Supporting Donald Trump Despite Allegations of Sexual Assault

U.S. Sen. Al Franken and Second District Democratic nominee Angie Craig are coming down hard on Second District Republican nominee Jason Lewis for supporting Donald Trump despite recent claims that Trump has committed sexual assault. Trump was faced late Wednesday with a slew of accusations by women of inappropriate touching and of being attacked. There appears to be no coordination among the women, but there is one thing in common: they were all motivated to come forward at this point in the election cycle by a key moment in Sunday's debate performance.

In a video tape that came to light last Friday, Trump boasted about kissing women without permission and grabbing their genitals, saying he could get away with it because he's "a star." But on Sunday night, when repeatedly pressed by CNN's Anderson Cooper as to whether or not he had actually done any of those things, he said, "No. I have not."

Earlier this week, Lewis, of Burnsville, told the Rochester Post Bulletin, "Trump is not my first choice, and I certainly don't support the things he says, but I am not willing to hand the country back to the Clintons."

"And still Jason Lewis stands with Trump," read a statement from the Angie Craig campaign.

"Jason says he doesn't support the things that Donald Trump says, but he's going to vote for him,” said Craig.

Franken also came out against Lewis for not withdrawing support from Trump, saying “Jason Lewis—like the man he supports for president—has a history of making blatantly sexist statements about women."

Allen McDuffee contributed to this report.

Image via Gage Skidmore, Flickr, used under Creative Commons