Al Franken Accuser Leeann Tweeden: 5 Things To Know

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Leeann Tweeden, a news anchor on 790 KABC talk radio, published a story Thursday morning accusing Sen. Al Franken of kissing and groping her without her consent while on a USO tour in 2006. Shortly after the allegations were made public, multiple lawmakers called for an investigation into Franken's actions, which the senator said he will support.

While not a household name, Tweeden has spent her career in the limelight. Here are five things to know about Leeann Tweeden:

Modeling career

According to Playboy Magazine, when Tweeden was just 16 she moved from her home town of Manassas, Virginia to Hollywood to pursue a modelling career. While waiting tables at an area Hooters, her big break came when she was given the chance to model for the restaurant chain. After that, she modeled for Frederick’s of Hollywood, Venus Swimwear, and has appeared in Playboy, Maxim and Sports Illustrated.

Television work

Between 2001 and 2007, Tweeden worked as a correspondent for Fox Sports Network's “Best Damn Sports Show.” She has also appeared on NBC’s “Poker After Dark” and FSN’s "UFC Tonight."

In 2013, Tweeden appeared on Sean Hannity’s Fox News show to discuss why Huma Abedin choose to defend her husband ex-Congressman Anthony Weiner, then a New York mayoral candidate, after he was accused of sending sexually explicit messages to women.

Tweeden said she understood Abedin’s reason for loyalty but called for Weiner to end his candidacy.

Support for the Military

Leeann’s father Bill is a retired Air Force mechanic who worked on B-57s. He met Leeann’s mother Catherine in the Philippines during the Vietnam War, according to Military Spouse. “My dad instilled a lot of pride in our country and for those that serve,” she told the magazine.

Tweeden met her husband Chris, a pilot in the Air Force, on her first USO tour in 2002. They married in 2010 and have two children together.

Tweeden has done 16 USO Tours around the world, including trips to Iraq and Afghanistan, according to IMDB.

Al Franken Accusation

Al Franken was a professional comedian at the time he and Tweeden were together on a USO tour in 2006.

The two were scheduled to do a skit together in which they were supposed to kiss, she wrote online Thursday. She says she wasn't planning on kissing him and would turn her head away at the last moment. But before they were to go on stage, Franken insisted on a practicing the kiss, according to Tweeden's account. She wrote that she allowed the practice kiss, but didn't agree to what ended up happening during the surprise rehearsal.

"We did the line leading up to the kiss and then he came at me, put his hand on the back of my head, mashed his lips against mine and aggressively stuck his tongue in my mouth," she wrote. "I immediately pushed him away with both of my hands against his chest and told him if he ever did that to me again I wouldn't be so nice about it the next time."

She added: "I felt disgusted and violated."

Later, she said, she was shown a photograph of Franken groping her while she was asleep.

"I certainly don't remember the rehearsal for the skit in the same way, but I send my sincerest apologies to Leeann," Franken said in a statement. "As to the photo, it was clearly intended to be funny but wasn't. I shouldn't have done it."

Accepts Apology

In a televised interview Thursday afternoon, Tweeden said she accepts Franken’s apology.

"The apology, sure I accept it, yes. People make mistakes and of course he knew he made a mistake," she said. "So yes I do accept that apology."

“There's no reason why I shouldn't accept his apology," she added, saying she was not "looking for anything" when she published her story.

Watch: Radio Host Leeann Tweeden Accepts Franken's Apology

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

Cody Fenwick, Patch National Staff, contributed to this story

Photo credit: Staff Sgt. Patrick N. Moes/U.S. Army via AP