King County Councilmembers Request Al Franken Event Be Canceled

SEATTLE, WA — Two members of the King County Council have signed a letter asking Seattle Theater Group to cancel a planned event with former U.S. Senator Al Franken at the Paramount on Friday. Referencing fresh allegations of inappropriate touching leveled against Franken by a former staffer of Washington Senator Patty Murray, Jeanne Kohl-Welles and Joe McDermott said allowing Franken to appear would be a "slap in the face," to women and the community.

"We believe women and we believe Senator Franken does not deserve a space at one of Seattle's most historic and treasured theaters," said Kohl-Welles and McDermott in a joint statement.

The letter focuses on this week's allegation that Franken touched the buttocks of a Murray staffer while posing for a photo at a 2006 Seattle event.

"When one conducts an internet search of Al Franken in Seattle right now, two results immediately come to view," the letter reads in part, referencing the advertisement for Friday's show and a news article about the latest misconduct allegation.

Franken resigned from the U.S. Senate in 2017, after several women accused him of unwanted groping or kissing. A new speaking tour is set to begin Wednesday in Portland. When asked whether Friday's event would actually be canceled, STG said they were in the process of evaluating the letter and public feedback and will have a statement available soon.

Tuesday night, ACLU Washington Legal Director Emily Chiang provided a statement to Patch, discouraging the the county from pushing for a cancellation of the show:

“Allegations of sexual harassment are a serious issue and we recognize the intent to support the brave women who step forward. But the government cannot do so by pressuring private venues to shut down certain speakers,” said Emily Chiang, ACLU of Washington Legal Director. “The First Amendment is designed to protect against government singling out speech it does not like—and trying to suppress that speech before it even happens would be an impermissible prior restraint. The government should not be in the business of picking and choosing who can and cannot speak.”

The councilmembers' complete letter can be found below: